Decimosexto Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario de 2026

Mis queridos hermanos y hermanas, el Evangelio de este domingo nos invita a reflexionar sobre una pregunta que muchas personas hacen: ¿Por qué hay tanto mal en el mundo?

Cada día oímos hablar de guerras, violencia, delincuencia, injusticia y sufrimiento. Lamentablemente, nos hemos acostumbrado tanto a estas tragedias que ya no nos sorprenden. Frente a tanto dolor, a menudo nos preguntamos: ¿Dónde está Dios? ¿Por qué permite que exista el mal?

Jesús responde a estas preguntas mediante la Parábola del Trigo y la Cizaña. Dios es el Sembrador que planta únicamente buena semilla. Pero el enemigo viene y siembra cizaña entre el trigo. Esto nos recuerda que, aunque Dios desea la bondad y la santidad, el mal también existe porque las personas son tentadas a rechazar la voluntad de Dios.

Los siervos quieren arrancar la cizaña de inmediato, pero el amo les dice que esperen. ¿Por qué? Porque Dios es paciente y misericordioso. Da tiempo a los pecadores para que se arrepientan y vuelvan a Él. Pensemos en cuán paciente ha sido Dios con cada uno de nosotros. Nos ha perdonado una y otra vez y continúa ofreciéndonos su misericordia.

Al mismo tiempo, Jesús nos recuerda que la paciencia de Dios no significa que el mal quedará sin castigo. Habrá un juicio final, cuando cada persona dará cuenta de la vida que ha vivido. Solo Dios es el Juez justo, y Él separará el trigo de la cizaña en el momento oportuno.

Las parábolas del grano de mostaza y de la levadura también nos enseñan que el Reino de Dios suele crecer de manera silenciosa y gradual. Incluso el acto más pequeño de fe, bondad, perdón o caridad puede dar grandes frutos dentro del plan de Dios.

En la segunda lectura, san Pablo nos recuerda que el Espíritu Santo nos ayuda en nuestra debilidad y nos enseña a orar. Nunca estamos solos mientras nos esforzamos por permanecer fieles.

Hermanos y hermanas, en lugar de centrarnos en el mal que nos rodea, preguntémonos: ¿Qué clase de semilla estoy sembrando? Que nuestras palabras y acciones reflejen el amor de Cristo, para que podamos convertirnos en instrumentos de su paz y ayudar a que su Reino crezca en nuestras familias, nuestras comunidades y nuestro mundo.

Que el Espíritu Santo nos fortalezca para permanecer fieles y dar abundantes frutos para la gloria de Dios.

Amén.

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Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2026

My dear brothers and sisters, this Sunday's Gospel invites us to reflect on a question that many people ask: Why is there so much evil in the world?

Every day we hear about wars, violence, crime, injustice, and suffering. Sadly, we have become so accustomed to these tragedies that they no longer surprise us. Faced with so much pain, we often wonder: Where is God? Why does He allow evil to exist?

Jesus answers these questions through the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds. God is the Sower who plants only good seed. But the enemy comes and sows weeds among the wheat. This reminds us that while God desires goodness and holiness, evil also exists because people are tempted to reject God's will.

The servants want to pull up the weeds immediately, but the master tells them to wait. Why? Because God is patient and merciful. He gives sinners time to repent and return to Him. Think of how patient God has been with each one of us. He has forgiven us again and again and continues to offer us His mercy.

At the same time, Jesus reminds us that God's patience does not mean that evil will go unpunished. There will be a final judgment, when each person will answer for the life he or she has lived. God alone is the just Judge, and He will separate the wheat from the weeds at the proper time.

The parables of the mustard seed and the yeast also teach us that God's Kingdom often grows quietly and gradually. Even the smallest act of faith, kindness, forgiveness, or charity can bear great fruit in God's plan.

In the second reading, St. Paul reminds us that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness and teaches us how to pray. We are never alone as we strive to remain faithful.

Brothers and sisters, rather than focusing on the evil around us, let us ask ourselves: What kind of seed am I planting? May our words and actions reflect the love of Christ, so that we may become

instruments of His peace and help His Kingdom grow in our families, our communities, and our world.

May the Holy Spirit strengthen us to remain faithful and to bear abundant fruit for the glory of God.

Amen.

16th Sunday 2026 A

Longer Gospel Version – Matthew 13:24-43

My friends, as mentioned last week, the Gospel according to Matthew has many parables, over 20.  Last week, Jesus told the Parable of the Sower.  Today, He tells 3 parables – with contrasting elements.  One parable is about the attempt to destroy the Kingdom of God and two parables are about building the Kingdom of God.

The first parable is about spreading evil in the Kingdom of God – and the mercy of God:

• The Sower of the wheat seed is Jesus. 

• The good seeds represent the disciples of Jesus, the children of the Kingdom of God. 

• The enemy is the devil, whose primary purpose is to convince as many people as possible to follow his way by enticing them into thinking that worldly goods and power are more enjoyable than following the way of Jesus, recognizing everyone as a child of God.

• The bad seeds, which grow into weeds are those who follow the devil.  They are the ones who promote and spread evil in the world.

Now, the battle of good and evil has existed since the beginning of time.  The circumstances and people have changed but the battle is the same.  Today, the enemy has new tools.  The devil uses Social Media, to tell lies and sow division between people and groups.  There are so many telephone scams and misleading infomercials.  The current age of technology is wonderful in that it can help humanity in the ways of medicine and science.  But the darker side of technology can give rise to evil and can cause harm.

My friends, our loving God is like the Sower of the Good Seed who allows the bad seed to grow along with the good.  God is patient.  Everyone is a child of God and everyone is invited to part of the Kingdom of God.  Those who have done evil always have the opportunity to repent.  It’s never too late.

The second and third parables contrast the first parable in that they are about promoting the Kingdom.  These two describe the slow and steady growth of the Way of Jesus:

• The Parable of the Mustard Seed describes the slow and steady growth of the mustard plant.  From a tiny seed to a huge bush.  The Kingdom of God proclaimed by Jesus grew a little at a time from 12 Apostles to the countless number of believers and Disciples over these past 2,600 years.

• The Parable of the Yeast is similar in that the leavening of dough is slow but steady.  The process of making bread or other pastry dough requires flour, water and yeast.  When the three ingredients are mixed together, fermentation occurs and the dough rises and becomes twice the size.  But, this process takes time and patience.  And, so it is with the Kingdom of our patient and loving God.

My Friends, as Disciples of Christ, our part in nurturing the Kingdom of God is generally slow and steady and quite often “behind the scenes” and perhaps even unintentional.  But people notice the things we do and say.  Even the little things we do or say can change someone’s heart and they too can experience the love of God.