Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, July 12, 2026
(EPISODE: 593 )
Readings for Sunday, 12 July 2026
FIRST READING: Isa 55:10-11
Ps 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14. "The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest."
SECOND READING: Rom 8:18-23
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION ((no bibl. ref.)). Alleluia, alleluia! The seed is the Word of God; Christ is the sower. All who come to him will live forever.
GOSPEL: Matt 13:1-23 or 13:1-9
Image Credit: https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/jlYhwicOcYNhIyqWYICr/jesus-parable-of-the-seed-sown-on-thorny-grounds?ru=Paul-Evangelion
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass (Readings, prayers and homily), for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A - Sunday, July 12, 2026 by clicking this link here: https://on.soundcloud.com/MdAn9nd6WthkHFRDsp
(EPISODE: 593 )
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(Fr Paul)
The wonderful image of the sower and the seed that falls into all sorts of different environments reminds us that, just as a seed contains within it everything needed to produce a viable plant, it will produce nothing unless it is properly watered, nourished, and finds the right soil or medium to take hold. It is similar to the idea of a delicious meal that contains all the nutrition needed to help a person stay healthy—but the meal is useless unless it is eaten. It is also like a light bulb that has the potential to light up a room but only if it is fitted into the socket and switched on. How important is the environment in which the Word of God is received? We need to keep constantly close to the Water of Life—God’s living word and sacraments.
Our Lord tells us that the seed represents the WORD of GOD… and we could also say that the seed represents FAITH in Jesus (and faith in who he is, what he teaches, and (just as importantly) how he lived… and faith in the gospel).
This “seed” could also represent the many opportunities we have all been given to help build up the Kingdom of God.
We cannot underestimate how important are (1) the environment in which the Word of God is received and nurtured, and (2) our response and our promotion of and living out of the values and God’s word. These factors are essential in helping God’s values to flourish everywhere. God wants and needs our cooperation and our partnership with him in helping God’s Kingdom come.
Truth be told, like the first reading, God is absolutely determined that the Word that comes from his mouth will not return empty and will achieve what God wants. However, we humans can cooperate with what God is doing, and (sadly) we are capable of resisting and even trying to block what God is doing. God is determined to work around our resistance and to achieve his plans, but we should not take this lightly—the non‑cooperation or resistance of people could seriously slow down the progress of God’s vision for the world. God may have to take alternate steps or “go the long way round” in achieving God’s goals due to human resistance or lack of openness.
Just as a seed needs good soil, water, shelter, nourishment and protection, so too our faith, our knowledge, and our life need to be continually planted and lovingly nurtured in an environment that will foster ongoing growth and learning.
There are many challenges in life too; we must be careful that the precious seed of faith is planted, nurtured, and attended to daily, or else it will not grow. Other things, other priorities and values might crowd out the growth of faith. Setbacks and hardships have the potential to stifle what we have. We need to actively protect, promote, and encourage the good treasure we have received so that it will indeed bear much fruit.
We believe that the sacraments of the Church are concrete guarantees and tangible experiences of an inner reality. So, when a priest says the words of forgiveness in the sacrament of penance (in the name of the Church and in the name of Jesus), we believe that this effectively conveys the sacrament of God’s forgiveness and healing. And when the Church baptises a person, we believe that the God‑given gift of faith is very much really and truly passed on in this action of pouring the water, professing Trinitarian faith, and conducting the prayers. And if a person is baptised, faith is definitely given (100% guaranteed)… but, as this gospel reminds us today, if one has baptism and then hardly does anything to nurture, deepen, or nourish that faith, then that real and effective “seed of faith” (which is surely there) would be rather like a seed in unwatered, unattended, and unploughed, hardened ground; it can hardly be expected to bear much or any fruit.
Mind you, God can achieve amazing results of grace and love in what seems to be the most inhospitable situations, but we must not take this for granted—and we should strive to give God’s word the most nurturing environment possible—with prayer, reflection, and good works.
Have you ever seen a rather healthy-looking plant springing up from a roof gutter of a house? It shouldn’t be there, and how has it gotten what it needs to grow? We don’t quite know; however, life finds a way! But again, we do not underestimate the power of working in every way we can to give the seed of God’s word the very best environment and every opportunity to produce the greatest harvest.
Interestingly, Jesus even realised that the results in his kingdom would be patchy at times, because he says the good seed yields one hundred, sixty, and thirty. That is, a declining sequence of numbers. So we have to be prepared for all sorts of results in the sowing of God’s effective word. And, although God’s word never returns void, it still remains very much our task to ensure that the word is given the nourishment and encouragement it needs to bear the most fruit.
So, in baptism and the other sacraments, they are certainly effective, but they cannot be disconnected from the concepts of conversion of heart, the practice of the faith, personal engagement, daily prayer, regular participation in the sacraments, regular spiritual reading and faith‑study and reflection, and, of course, practical, loving, and compassionate action in our daily lives and priorities. The forgiveness and healing given in the sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance) are real, but the sacrament bears the most fruit when watered by the moving tears of repentance and nourished by a change of heart, attitude, and behaviour.
Our Lord frequently urged his disciples to pray and fast often so that you will not enter into times of trial. He also appeared to be saying: pray and prepare so that God will give you strength during times of trial, to avoid the cares of this world crowding in around us.
Our Lord teaches us that we not only ought to pray, reflect, and prepare for the possibility of hard times (and difficult environments), but we must expect them and use every spiritual resource God gives us to nurture and strengthen the graces and gifts from God—lest the wonderful seed of faith and the fruits of the Kingdom it produces might be very poor.
God has sown the seed in the hearts of each of us, and now we must nurture, feed, water, and nourish that seed of faith and love daily—and even more so when we sometimes find the environment around us rocky, weedy, scorching, or crowded. Then staying constantly connected to the Water of Life will sustain us come what may.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly.
Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/jlYhwicOcYNhIyqWYICr/jesus-parable-of-the-seed-sown-on-thorny-grounds?ru=Paul-Evangelion
To listen to the Sunday Mass each week (including homily) from Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish, please visit this link: Liturgy for you at Home (by SPCP) - https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
Also found at - https://tinyurl.com/FHLpwk
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A (Sunday, July 12, 2026) (EPISODE: 593 )
The Lord be with you.
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{{Hi everyone}} welcome everyone, we gather - Reflect upon the Holy Scriptures On this Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A
As we prepare to celebrate the great Sacramental feast of God's love, let us pause, recall our sins, and trust in God's infinite mercy.
I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault,* through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
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Ps 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14. "The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest."
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION ((no bibl. ref.)). Alleluia, alleluia! The seed is the Word of God, Christ is the sower. All who come to him will live forever.
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PREFACE: Sundays Ordinary V
Eucharistic Prayer III
Communion side. pwk:
(theme variation: 2 )
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{thanks everyone. And may God sustain you with his grace and love.}
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly
Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)
Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)
"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.
Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993). (Sydney Australia).
"Quiet Time." Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.
Lenten Hymn: "Have Mercy" Inspired by Psalm 50(51). Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2020.
Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly.
Microphones: - Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser.
Editing equipment: NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software
NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44
Sound Processing: iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor
[ Production - KER - 2026]
May God bless and keep you.
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