OMELIE / Omelie EN

19 lug 2026

July 19, 2026 - 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A

July 19, 2026 - 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A

First Reading: Wisdom 12:13, 16-19 from Psalm 85 Second Reading: Romans 8:26-27 Gospel: Matthew 13:24-43

We don't know how to pray! Saint Paul tells us this, even if it seems exaggerated to us: in fact, we think we know how to pray, and we do so often. So we ask ourselves: is our "praying" as the Lord Jesus intended? Jesus' disciples already prayed, yet he taught them to pray. He had to tell them not to pray like the hypocrites: the prayer of these people is not considered such by God; he also taught them not to pray like the pagans: not even that prayer meets the heart of the Lord's Father. He taught us to place ourselves before the Father, looking him in the face, to see and learn his desires! But today, Saint Paul helps and encourages us by telling us that "the Spirit helps us in our weakness." He himself will pray in us, in a worthy manner, because he "intercedes according to God's will." We will then be careful to be imbued with the Holy Spirit, and not by other spirits, and then our prayer will be pleasing.

Today's other readings also shed light on prayer. When we pray, it is important to know the person before us. It is God, but not an unknown God, not just any God. The Book of Wisdom reveals to us: "There is no God besides you who cares for all things, ... after sins, you grant repentance." He is a God who cares for all things, especially for man, even though he is a sinner: he grants him repentance for his sins, so that he can be forgiven and re-establish communion with him. He is a God to whom, despite his strength, we must say: "You judge with meekness and govern us with great indulgence." Knowing such a God is something new in this world, where speaking of God is frightening, because He is unknown, but imagined according to our desires, even our selfish ones!

Jesus came to make Him known to us: He will say this during the prayer at the Last Supper, so that the disciples will remember Him. In praying to the Father, He says: "I have made known to them your name, and I will make it known." Jesus did everything and said every word so that our knowledge of God is true, without lies. We will know Him as a Father who loves and shows mercy.

Today, the Gospel presents Jesus to us as he tells three parables. Through them, too, He perfects our knowledge of God, so that we can see the extent of His wisdom, His patience with us, His faithfulness, and His mercy.

With the first, He presents us with a Sower, a householder, who diligently does his work: he sows good grain in his field. He has servants, who after a while realize that weeds are growing among the wheat, a small plant that would make the bread poisonous if its flour were mixed with wheat. They don't understand where it could come from. Who sowed it? They don't doubt their master; it certainly wasn't him. Jesus explains that there is also an enemy who works in the shadows, secretly, without being seen: he wants to damage the harvest, to make people sick and kill.

We understand that when Jesus speaks of the Sower, he is referring to God, the Father. This God acts well, and for the good of those who will eat the bread. No one can suspect or doubt him. Although his precious work is fruitful, vigilance is necessary at all times. The serpent who deceived Eve still exists and is at work: he wants to ruin humanity. And no one can prevent his deception from causing harm. The wheat must grow alongside the weeds; it must become accustomed to having plants that deceive and harm nearby.

This master accustoms his servants to patience, perseverance, and trust. Their relationship with him—that is, their prayer—becomes one of patient obedience; they will obey, even though they don't understand everything.

The second parable speaks of the smallest of seeds, which, if sown, becomes a sapling. It will be useful to the "birds of the air," which in prophetic language refer to pagan peoples. The whole world benefits from that tiny grain. So, when you pray to God, know that you are praying to Him who loves all men. He can use you to spread His love to everyone, even those you might call enemies.

The third parable forces you to consider the work of the housewife: three measures of flour, thanks to a little yeast hidden within them, can become bread that feeds a multitude. The God you pray to is concerned with providing nourishment for everyone, not just your family. He uses few, as little as yeast, to make many happy.

Behold, the God we pray to is truly a special God: the more you look at him, the more you see the beauty of his marvellous love. Therefore, our prayer will be special: open to love, forgiveness, and mercy.