For all who may have may have missed Sunday Service/Mass:

St. Anne's & St Thomas's Church of the Holy See of Antioch.
July 23rd. 2017. Year A.
Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Colour. Green.

COLLECT ONE

O God,
who hast prepared for them that love thee
such good things as pass man’s understanding;
Pour into our hearts such love toward thee,
that we, loving thee above all things,
may obtain thy promises,
which exceed all that we can desire;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
COLLECT TWO

Merciful God,
you have prepared for those who love you
such good things as pass our understanding:
Pour into our hearts such love toward you
that we, loving you above all things,
may obtain your promises,
which exceed all that we can desire;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayers for the Sick.

Today we pray for:
Carmel.
Johnny.
Andrew.
David.
Kim.
Fr David Parry and his partner.
Terry Moss.
Michael Denton.
+++Paul.
Pat (SG's)
+++Paul Roberts
Archbishop Kieran.
Angela and Sean.
Kevin Michael Bass.
Ann.
Bernadette.
Patricia.
Stephen.
Robert.
June.
Kate.
Mary. ( Ian's Mother)
Ian.
Barbara.
Graham.
Oliver.
Paul Antonne.
Carl.
Derek, and Nash.
Brian.
Peter.
Gary.
Tommy (Eddie's friend)
Margaret.
+Chris Oliver.
Archbishop Benjamin Driggers
Tom Kavanagh and his Family.
Ariel and her children.
Rosie Sugar.
Myself.
Fl. Officer, James Swan.
Geraldine.
+Gabrielle.
Joanne McNamara
Prince Philip.
Baden Stanley.
Yotis Kontonasios.
For all the wounded from the Arena in Manchester.
For all the wounded from the London Bridge/Borough Market.
For all the injured, and those families that lost members in that tragic fire in the Grenfell Tower Block in London.

And for the Repose of the Souls of:

My Beloved Linda.
Ronnie (SG's uncle).
Jen Molloy
Nuala,
Virgina.
George Michael.
Jennie Williams mum.
Kim's Nana.
My old pal Benny.
Sheamus Carroll.
Brother Gary.
Michael Condon.
Albert Roche.
Joe Griffin
Peter Sallins ( Cleggy)
The 800 Tuam babies
For all 22 children and people killed in the Arena. Manchester.
For the 26 Coptic Christians killed in Egypt.
For the 7 killed on In the London Bridge/Borough Market.
For the souls of the those who lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower Block in London.
For the soul of the 3 year boy murdered in Dublin.

May the souls of the faithfully departed rest in peace, and rise in glory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE FIRST READING

Genesis 28: 10–19a or Wisdom 12: 13, 16–19 or Isaiah 44: 6–8

THE PSALM

Psalm 139: 1–11, 23–24

O Lord, you have searched me out and known me; •
you know my sitting down and my rising up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
2 You mark out my journeys and my resting place •
and are acquainted with all my ways.
3 For there is not a word on my tongue, •
but you, O Lord, know it altogether.
4 You encompass me behind and before •
and lay your hand upon me.
5 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, •
so high that I cannot attain it.
6 Where can I go then from your spirit? •
Or where can I flee from your presence?
7 If I climb up to heaven, you are there; •
if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.
8 If I take the wings of the morning •
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
9 Even there your hand shall lead me, •
your right hand hold me fast.
10 If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will cover me •
and the light around me turn to night,’
11 Even darkness is no darkness with you;
the night is as clear as the day; •
darkness and light to you are both alike.
23 Search me out, O God, and know my heart; •
try me and examine my thoughts.
24 See if there is any way of wickedness in me •
and lead me in the way everlasting.

THE SECOND READING

Romans 8: 12–25

THE GOSPEL READING

Matthew 13: 24–30, 36–43

He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?” 28He answered, “An enemy has done this.” The slaves said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” 29But he replied, “No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’
36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.’ 37He answered, ‘The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears* listen! inexpensive items with lace to wear of the wedding

Homily.

We are frustrated and baffled by the presence of evil in our midst; it is one of our biggest questions. In this parable Jesus tells us that this is the work of the enemy: the struggle between good and evil is to the death, but we can rest assured that God will have the last word. It is never easy to believe this, for often the evidence points in the other direction, so I ask for the grace to believe that God is the just and powerful judge.
What is my position in this grand struggle between good and evil? Am I a passive spectator, an armchair critic, a mere consumer who cares only about my own well-being? Or am I a co-worker with God, as he labours to proclaim and spread his kingdom of truth, justice and peace?

POST COMMUNION PRAYER

God of our pilgrimage,
you have led us to the living water.
Refresh and sustain us
as we go forward on our journey,
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

+nnDnn+