Liturgy, Liturgy Notes, Liturgy Planner, Sunday Prep, Planning for Mass
Liturgy Notes, Liturgy Planner, Sunday Prep, Planning for Mass
July 19, 2026
Today’s Liturgy
PETITIONS
July 19, 2026
The Church
Governments and Salvation of the World
Those Burdened by Adversity
Local Parish / Faith Community
THE WORD
IN SONGS
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AI MUSIC
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Weed in the Wheat Parable
Matthew 13:24-43
16th Sunday of Year A
July 19, 2026
THE WORD THIS WEEK
Good seeds in the field
Weeds grow up among the wheat
Wait for harvest time
July 19, 2026
Papal Homilies
Sunday Readings - Catechism Search Engine
Featured Blog Posts
July 19, 2026
📌 THEWORDTHISWEEK.NET - PINNED
Tares in Tec: Why We Can’t Just Delete Bad AI
The “good seed” of helpful algorithms grows alongside “weeds” of deepfakes, bias, and misinformation. Because synthetic and authentic data are deeply intertwined, reactionary attempts to purge bad data by force risk destroying technological progress entirely. Ultimately, the parable counsels systemic patience, suggesting that managing AI requires mature discernment and strategic auditing rather than shortsighted panic.
Fr. Vincent Hawkswell | Archive
Love Involves Suffering (2023)
Fr. George Corrigan, OFM
Harvest Parables: Context
Harvest Parables: Wheat and Tares
Harvest Parables: Beyond Our Calling
Harvest Parables: Mustard Seed and Yeast
Msgr. Joseph Pellegrino (PDF) | Archive
The Christian Farmer's Almanac
Fr. Tommy Lane | Archive
Only good things come from God 2023
Remove your weeds instead of judging others’ weeds 2008
Stories: Weeds among the wheat: God’s infinite mercy (a dialogue)
Fr. Michael Fallon, MSC | Archive
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (PDF)
Bulletin Inserts
First Reading | Second Reading | Gospel
July 19, 2026
Liturgy Notes
16th Sunday of Year A
Summer Penance Service
The first reading ends by reminding us that God gave God’s children good ground for hope permitting repentance for their sins. The psalm proclaims God is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and fidelity.” Paul speaks of the Spirit coming to the aid of our weakness, and the Gospel includes a call to repentance for “all who cause others to sin and all evildoers.”
This might be a good time to think about a summer penance service. It’s been months since Lent, and there are months ahead until Advent. Because those two seasons really occur rather close to each other, the bulk of the year can go by with no invitation to repentance and reconciliation. Can you find effective ways to invite people to gather to celebrate God’s mercy together outside of those two seasons?
You might also combine these two themes by focusing a penance service around repentance for our sins against God’s creation. In the midst of summer, many people spend time in nature, hiking, camping, biking or just relaxing outdoors. Could you invite people to gather to give thanks for all the gifts of creation and to seek forgiveness for the times we have not appreciated these gifts adequately or cared for them properly? You could even begin such a service outdoors, giving thanks as the assembly experiences the goodness of nature and then proceed into the church to offer prayers for forgiveness and the opportunity for confession.
It might also be possible to arrange a service that begins with a parish picnic. If that isn’t workable on the parish grounds, the parish could gather at a park and celebrate God’s mercy in the out-of-doors. Sometimes, we need to think outside the box (or outside the church walls) to entice people to gather for creative worship.
Full Series: Cycle A Resources
OCP Music
Entrance
Table of Plenty (Dan Schutte)
Spirit & Song #233; Never Too Young #75; Breaking Bread #312
Verse 1 is so “in tune” with today’s Gospel parable: “O come and sit at my table where saints and sinners are friends…”
Response & Acclaim
Response & Acclaim
Lord, You Are Good and Forgiving (Tom Booth)
Spirit & Psalm 2026: p. 250
Tom Booth’s verbatim setting of Psalm 86 sings in praise of God’s mercy – the yeast that leavens the Kingdom.
2026 PLAYLIST (152 VIDEOS)
Alleluia: Mass of Renewal (Curtis Stephan)
Spirit & Psalm 2026: p. 252
This acclamation verse once again inspires us to listen to God’s word with the innocence and openness of a child.
2026 PLAYLIST (152 VIDEOS)
Presentation & Preparation
Presentation and Preparation
The House that Love Is Building (Sarah Hart)
Breaking Bread #319
“In the garden Love is tending there’s a great and boundless feast, where the seeds of hope are planted, and the yield is heaven’s peace.” This text from Verse 2 underscores the teaching of today’s readings.
Communion
Communion
You Stand Knocking (Tom Booth)
The prescribed antiphons often offer ideas for related songs that we can sing at the processions of the liturgy. Tom Booth’s “You Stand Knocking” follows up on the invitation of the Communion Antiphon: “You stand knocking at the door, offering all I’m hoping for.” You can find the sheet music at the link above.
Sending Forth
Sending Forth
Our God Is Good (Josh Blakesley and Cooper Ray)
Spirit & Song #227; Never Too Young #103
An energetic song that sends us forth from this Eucharist to proclaim that “His Kingdom lives on and on and on!”
THE COMMONS
Liturgy Blog is a weekly liturgy planning resource for musicians, liturgists, homilists, youth groups, faith sharing groups, and all who look to the liturgical readings for inspiration and nourishment. Join Ken Canedo as he breaks open the Scripture and suggests tracks from the Spirit & Song contemporary repertoire.
Video courtesy of Lector with Lisa
Delivery Blueprint & Pacing Control
Text Segment | Vocal Tone | Pacing & Ambo Actions |
"A reading from the Book of Wisdom." | Inviting | LONG PAUSE. Let the word "Wisdom" settle completely before continuing. |
"There is no God besides you who have the care of all," | Conversational | MAKE EYE CONTACT. Look directly at the assembly as you proclaim "care of all." |
"that you need show you have not unjustly condemned." | Steady | Full stop at the period. LONG PAUSE. |
"For your might is the source of justice;" | Admiring | Brief pause. Prepare for the balancing Hebrew parallel line. |
"your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all." | Tender | PAUSE. Let the radical idea of mastery creating leniency sit with them. |
"For you show your might when the perfection of your power is disbelieved;" | Stronger | Slightly firmer tone to reflect His historical power (like the Exodus). |
"and in those who know you, you rebuke temerity." | Direct | Temerity = shyness/timidity. God is telling us to step out in faith. |
"But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency," | Shift to Tender | Lower your volume slightly. Lean into the beauty of the word "clemency." |
"and with much lenience you govern us." | Grateful | Let your voice convey genuine gratitude. Pause before the conclusion. |
"For power whenever you will attends you." | Awestruck | Acknowledge God's absolute freedom and strength. |
"And you taught your people by these deeds" | Instructional | Slow down drastically here for the core pivot of the reading. |
"that those who are just... must be kind;" | MAXIMUM SLOW | LONG PAUSE AFTER "JUST." If you rush this phrase, the meaning is lost. |
"and you gave your children good ground for hope" | Hopeful | Bring a warm, reassuring tone to the word "hope." |
"that you would permit repentance for their sins." | Humble Sorrow | A quiet, deeply reflective finish. Think: "Create in me a clean heart." |
Wisdom 12:13, 16-19
Courtesy of Greg Warnusz
Our Liturgical Setting: As usual, a lector should start with a reading of the day's gospel passage, Matthew 13:24-43. It contains a few more of Jesus' agricultural parables about the reign of God. The emphases on God's power over evildoers and non-believers, and God's forbearance, underlie the choice of first reading.
The Historical Situation: About a century before the birth of Jesus, a learned and faithful Jew assessed the situation for Jews in the great cosmopolitan city Alexandria in Egypt. Many Jews there had "assimilated" into the dominant pagan culture. They and native pagans sometimes ridiculed practicing Jews, so our sage wrote a book of Wisdom, to bolster the faith of his friends. (The Church cites this book often in the Lectionary, so this introduction may be familiar to users of Lector's Notes.) One of the author's overall goals is to remind his fellow Jews of their ancient heritage, and to emphasize God's providence for these people throughout their history.
Today's verses come from a the section of the book, Wisdom, 11:17-12:27, called "A digression on God's mercy." And it really does digress. But one solid point it makes is that this God (and, it is implied, unlike all other gods) is so powerful and wise that he need not be vengeful and quick to punish. This God can afford to let his enemies live, for they can never prevail, and given time, might repent. That's the admirable God addressed in our passage today.
Proclaiming It: This reading is in the second person, addressed by the speaker to God. That's unusual among our readings. It will catch the congregation unawares, unless you begin your proclamation carefully. Speak the first sentence slowly, emphasizing the words "god" and "you" in the first line. The final clause of the first sentence means "God, you don't have to prove to anyone that what you do is fair."
Our second sentence ("... your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all.") captures most clearly the point of the whole passage (and the whole digression), so state it slowly and clearly. Pause before the final sentence, where the emphasis changes from the power of God to the lessons people should draw from dealing with such a God.
Video courtesy of Lector with Lisa
Delivery Blueprint & Pacing Control
Text Segment | Vocal Tone | Pacing & Ambo Actions |
"A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans." | Welcoming | LONG PAUSE. Let them settle into their seats and mentally prepare for Paul's teaching. |
"Brothers and sisters:" | Warm & Intimate | MAKE INTENTIONAL EYE CONTACT. Look directly at the people as you greet them. Do not look down at the text until you finish the phrase. |
"The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness;" | Empathetic | DELIBERATE PAUSE. Let the word "weakness" land. Acknowledge the shared human reality of feeling spiritually tired. |
"for we do not know how to pray as we ought," | Vulnerable | LONG PAUSE. This is the critical moment for the congregation to internally agree with you: "Yes, I don't know how to do this right." |
"but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings." | Shift to Amazement | Let your voice fill with awe and relief. Speak "inexpressible groanings" with deep reverence for the mystery of silent prayer. |
"And the one who searches hearts" | Tender | Conversational speed. You are describing a God who knows us intimately. |
"knows what is the intention of the Spirit," | Assured | Steady pacing. Building the foundation of trust. |
"because he intercedes..." | Trusting | PAUSE. Create a distinct structural breath here. |
"...for the holy ones..." | Reassuring | PAUSE. Remind the listeners that they are the holy ones being prayed for. |
"...according to God’s will." | Grateful & Grounded | Bring the reading to a confident, peaceful finish. If we trust the Spirit, we are already resting in God's care. |
Romans 8:26-27
Courtesy of Greg Warnusz
The Theological Background: Like previous selections from Romans, chapter 8, this is about how helpless we are on our own, but how the Spirit of God nevertheless empowers us. Today the subject is prayer, which we can't muster by ourselves, but which the Spirit supplies in our hearts.
Proclaiming It: To prepare to read this, let yourself experience the lesson taught here. That is, ask the Spirit to fill your heart with gratitude.
In your actual proclamation, try to answer the question, "What's one important thing for which we need the help of God's Spirit?" The answer is "How to pray as we ought." Let your listeners hear the accent on "pray." And in the last sentence, show how the Spirit fulfills this need by emphasizing the synonym for "pray," "intercedes."
Extra! Each Sunday passage from Romans in context: Click here to see a table summarizing the readings from Romans from the 9th to the 24th Sundays of Ordinary Time, this year.
