Sunday July 19, 2020
Seventh Sunday After Pentecost
The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. . . “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” Matthew 13:24–25, 30
Why must we endure the questions, the challenges, and the things that are not as they should be? The disciples long ago wondered about this too. Why are there weeds in God’s field and what can be done about it? The seed was good, but God has enemies, and so do you. It is not given to us to resolve this until the Lord’s time, when He will separate the weeds from the wheat. It is enough for us to know that God knows the hearts of people and that this tension will not endure. When Jesus comes in His glory, the angels will gather out of His kingdom all who do not belong. Then the righteous shall shine like the sun, so take heart, people of God.
READINGS
Old Testament Reading:
Psalm:
Epistle:
Gospel:
Isaiah 44:6–8
Is there a God besides the Lord?
Psalm 119:57–64
Romans 8:18–27
The sufferings of this present age are not worth comparing to the glory waiting to be revealed
Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43
Then the righteous shall shine like the sun
COLLECT
It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who, out of love for His fallen creation, humbled Himself by taking on the form of a servant, becoming obedient unto death, even death upon a cross. Risen from the dead, He has freed us from eternal death and given us life everlasting. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name.
