Matthew 13:24 - 43 Let them both grow till the harvest.
Jesus put another parable before the crowds: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everybody was asleep his enemy came, sowed darnel all among the wheat, and made off. When the new wheat sprouted and ripened, the darnel appeared as well. The owner’s servants went to him and said, “Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? If so, where does the darnel come from?” “Some enemy has done this” he answered. And the servants said, “Do you want us to go and weed it out?” But he said, “No, because when you weed out the darnel you might pull up the wheat with it. Let them both grow till the harvest; and at harvest time I shall say to the reapers: First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burnt, then gather the wheat into my barn.”’
He put another parable before them, 'The kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the biggest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air can come and shelter in its branches.'
He told them another parable, 'The kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour till it was leavened all through.' In all this Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables; indeed, he would never speak to them except in parables. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet: I will speak to you in parables, unfold what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.
Then, leaving the crowds, he went to the house; and his disciples came to him and said, 'Explain to us the parable about the darnel in the field.' He said in reply, 'The sower of the good seed is the Son of man. The field is the world; the good seed is the subjects of the kingdom; the darnel, the subjects of the Evil One; the enemy who sowed it, the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; the reapers are the angels.
Well then, just as the darnel is gathered up and burnt in the fire, so it will be at the end of time.
The Son of man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of falling and all who do evil, and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Then the upright will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Anyone who has ears should listen!
This is the gospel of the Lord.
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Prayers of Intercession
Today we have heard the parables about what the Kingdom of heaven is like. It is not easy for us to sometimes understand the meaning of parables so we pray for clarity and understanding to enable us to identify what God wants for us.
We pray that the different factions in the church will set aside their judgements of each other and instead work together for God’s kingdom on earth.
Lord in your mercy… Hear our prayer.
That governments will work to give food to the hungry both in our country and throughout the world.
Lord in your mercy… Hear our prayer.
For those who have rejected the word of God that they may return to God.
Lord in your mercy… Hear our prayer.
For those who struggle to pray that the Spirit will intercede for them and show them the way to God.
Lord in your mercy… Hear our prayer.
For our faith community that they may sort out the weeds of selfishness and intolerance in our own lives.
Lord in your mercy… Hear our prayer.
For all those who are sick in mind, body or soul particularly for those on the prayer foundation list and for all those who care for them.
Lord in your mercy… Hear our prayer.
We pray for those who have died recently – Fr Brendan Forde OFM, Donat Kweka, (Tanzania) George Pringle, James O’Donnell, Mary (Molly) McIver.
And for all those whose anniversary occurs at this time. We pray also for all those who mourn the loss of a loved one that our Father in Heaven will comfort them in their grief.
Lord in your mercy… Hear our prayer.
We will now say the Missionary Prayer together.
