Votive Shrine, Kilpauk – English Liturgy Committee

16th Sunday of Ordinary Time - A

First Reading: Wisdom (12:13, 16-19) | Second Reading: Romans (8:26-27) Gospel: Matthew (13:24-43)

General Introduction: - Do not read this line

The theme for today serves as a reminder of how much God loves us even when we
make choices that turn us away from God. The image Jesus uses here is a common
everyday example of planting, harvesting, and sorting the good fruit from the bad. Weeds
can spoil and even kill a good harvest if they are not separated and destroyed at the
proper time. Uprooting them too early, though, can destroy the good plants in the
process. Just as nature teaches us patience, so God's patience also teaches us to guard the
word God has planted in our hearts and to beware of the destructive force of sin and evil
which can destroy it.

Introduction to the First Reading: - Do not read this line

Today’s First Reading reminds us that we can try to be masters of moral disguise, but
the Lord sees beyond the surface and measures us by our deeds, not just appearances.

Introduction to the Second reading: - Do not read this line

In today’s Second Reading St. Paul reminds us that holiness is something that comes
from the depths of our soul because it consists of making the Spirit of God our spirit.
 Votive Shrine, Kilpauk – English Liturgy Committee

Prayer of the Faithful – For the Celebrant

Cel: Jesus took great care to explain the concept of the Kingdom of God and
his preferred method is to speak about it in parables. The Kingdom of God is
a spiritual reality that welcomes God’s rule and the expected human
responses to it. In order that the Kingdom may grow and become beneficial
to human community, human beings should cooperate with God’s designs.
As we enjoy the fruits of the Kingdom, let us promise him our cooperation,
saying.

Response: Lord, make us partakers of your Kingdom.

Prayer after Prayer of Faithful

Cel: Lord Jesus we thank you for revealing to us the mysteries of the
kingdom. As the weeds were not removed immediately lest the good and
fruit-bearing plants should also be uprooted, so we too receive time and
opportunities to reform and turn away from the evil forces within us. Give us
the grace, that we too, being attached to you, may become fruit-bearing
members of your Church. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.
AMEN.
 Votive Shrine, Kilpauk – English Liturgy Committee

Prayer of the Faithful – For the Reader

Response: Lord, make us partakers of your Kingdom.

1. For the pope, the bishops and the priests that they may become harbingers of the
compassion and mercy that Jesus came to disseminate among the people, we pray
to the Lord. R/

2. Enmity and retaliatory tendencies are behind much of the crimes that are
committed daily, even the most heinous ones. That such tendencies may be
removed from people’s minds, we pray to the Lord. R/

3. That Christians may put their trust in the Kingdom of God and its values and not
trust excessively in the kingdoms of the world which cannot satisfy the human
aspirations for an enduring life, we pray to the Lord. R/

4. That people may not trade their faith in God for anything else for there is nothing
more precious than a deep rooted faith in God, we pray to the Lord. R/

5. For all of us present in this Eucharistic assembly that enlightened by the Word of
God that assures us that God cares for all and come to the help of human beings
in their weakness, we may contribute our bit to the dissemination of the Kingdom
values, we pray to the Lord. R/

Pray for community and personal needs