Cycle A,Good News A34,Gather the Wheat, 16th Ordinary,July 17, 2005,Matthew 13:24-43,Children's Devotional, Gospel-based, Children's Liturgy, Children's Homily, Catholic, Christian, written by Joan Y. Edwards

Cycle A

Good News A34

Gather the Wheat

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 13:24-43 Bible Gateway New International Version

"First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn."

In the story about the good seed and the weeds, Jesus explains that he is allowing people who are the good seed, and those who are evil to live with each other on this earth. When they die, God alone will judge them. Those who have been evil, who have not loved God and have not followed his commandments will be sent to burn. Those who have followed his commandments, will go to live with God forever in his barn (heaven).

Every day of your life, you should make sure you are following in Jesus’ footsteps. If you get a little off God’s path, then ask him for forgiveness. Ask him how you to get back on his path. Look for ways to show your love for God and his people.

When you notice a few weeds growing around you, pray for them. Do not judge them. Leave the judging to God. By your thoughts, words, and actions, show others how to the good wheat of God

Parts of the United States are now experiencing a drought....water is scarce. Weather patterns are changing. The weather is about 3º warmer than usual. Hot weather dries out the forests. It makes it easier for a forest fire to start and harder to put out the fire. Since there has been very little rain and extremely hot weather, many forest fires have been occurring in many parts of our country, especially the western states. Please, pray for rain for the dry parts of America.

People need water to drink. Water is used to wash people. Water is used to wash clothes. Water is needed to grow plants to use as food. Fish need water to live. People enjoy using water for fun: boating, swimming, and skiing.

If you don’t have enough water in your life, ask God for help. If you are experiencing a drought in your life, then ask God to send you the water of his spirit. If you have not been following God’s commandments, ask God to send the water of his Holy Spirit to cleanse you of your sins. Ask the Holy Spirit to put out the fire of evil inside you. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you grow as good wheat. The Holy Spirit can help you do the right thing. Even when you do not see anyone around you doing what is right, the Holy Spirit can help you decide to do what is right. All you have to do is ask God. Using God’s waters of wisdom, patience, understanding, and self-control, you can obey God’s laws and be able to have fun with God in his heavenly kingdom forever and ever. You will be gathered as good wheat into God’s heavenly barn.

Say the “Our Father” and thank God for the seeds of goodness he plants within you and others on your path to heaven. Thank him for everything he does to help keep evil away from you.

“Our Father, who art in Heaven,

Hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day, our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.”