No Time to be Complacent

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

19 July 2026

 

First Reading: Wisdom 12:13, 16-19

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16

Second Reading: Romans 8:26-27

Gospel: Matthew 13:24-43

 

Reflection

By: Pietro S. Albano

 

Franz Jägerstätter was an Austrian farmer, husband, and father who was beheaded for refusing to serve in the Nazi Army. Commenting on today’s Gospel, he wrote, “If God were to take away the persecutors, there would no longer be martyrs. If God were to remove all struggles from our lives, we would no longer receive the crown of glory.” Indeed, we often discover that God draws a straight line from what seems crooked in the world. Think of the various forms of persecution that Christians such as Franz, Lorenzo Ruiz, Pedro Calungsod, and others down the ages have encountered. These have become avenues for the Word of God to thrive in peoples’ hearts. As Tertullian’s famous saying goes, “The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church”.

Living our faith is not easy. The good seed that Jesus sows in the world are constantly challenged by the weeds sown by the devil. Sometimes, we tend to be complacent, especially if we live where practicing our faith is allowed. Imagine living somewhere else where there are few churchgoers or where persecution is staring in front of you. It made me think: Will I let my faith shine through or hide it under a bowl (Mt 5:15)?

Living in Europe for many years made me realize how valuable my faith is. Unlike the churches in the Philippines were there are lots of priests and Sunday Masses and churches are full, here it’s the opposite. I recall Msgr Nestor Cerbo’s prayer when he hosted a farewell party for me: to be a missionary. By God’s grace, I carry on that role in my own small way in our parish.

Today’s Gospel constantly challenges us to remain vigilant and persevering so we can be like the good soil that became fruitful (Mt 13:1-23). We may falter along the journey, but that should not make us disheartened because “the Spirit helps us in our weakness” (Rm 8:26).  

 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, show Your strength in our moments of doubt. Fill us with good hope that we may consistently follow Your Son who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In His Name, we pray. Amen.