Fifteenth Sunday of in Ordinary Time – Year A

First Reading

Isaiah 55:10-11

The Word of the Lord shall achieve its purpose.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 65:10-14

A prayer of praise to God for his abundance.

Second Reading

Romans 8:18-23

Together with all of creation, we await God’s redemption.

Gospel Reading

Matthew 13:1-23 (shorter form: Matthew 13:1-9)

Jesus teaches that the kingdom of heaven is like seed that has been sown on good soil.

Background on the Gospel Reading

Today’s Gospel marks the beginning of the third long discourse given by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. Over the next few weeks, the Gospel readings will consist of the entire 13th Chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, a lengthy teaching discourse.

Throughout this discourse, Jesus will offer several parables to illustrate for his listeners what he means by the kingdom of heaven. He begins with the parable of the sower, which appears rather straightforward—of course seeds grow best in good soil. Seeds that miss the soil, are sown on rocky ground, or are sown among other plants will not grow. The surprise in the parable is the enormous yield of the seed that is sown on good soil.

Jesus then explains his use of parables. Jesus seems to suggest that he uses parables to teach because the meanings of parables are not self-evident. The hearer must engage in some degree of reflection in order to comprehend the message of a parable. In this way, the medium—the parable—models the point of the parable of the sower. Those who are willing to engage themselves in the effort to understand will be rewarded by the discovery of the message and will bear fruit.

To bring home the point, Jesus interprets the parable of the sower to his disciples. The different types of soil in which the seeds are sown are metaphors for the disposition with which each individual hears the teaching about the kingdom of heaven. Some will be easily swayed away from the kingdom of heaven. Some will receive it for a time but will lose it when faced with difficulties. Some will hear the word but will then permit other cares to choke it out. Yet some will receive it well, and the seed will produce abundant fruit.

Simple Gifts

Here is the Fantasie on the tune 'Simple Gifts' originally written and performed by Paul Fey in the U.S. at Methuen Memorial Music Hall. You will recognize the melody and enjoy the variation on the tune as it is played on this beautiful organ.

Shoes to the World

We will be on the Church patio this weekend July 15 & 16 fund raising to provide new shoes for families living in poverty. 100% of your donations will purchase NEW shoes to be distributed by volunteers to impoverished children and adults.

Visit: www.shoestotheworld.org for more information or to donate.

Prayer Intention of Our Holy Father

Each month the Pope designates a prayer intention for Catholics across the world. In announcing the intention for July, Pope Francis says: “Let us pray that Catholics place at the center of their lives the eucharistic celebration which transforms human relationships and opens up an encounter with God and their brothers and sisters.”



It fits well with the Eucharistic Revival underway in the United States. To hear more about this intention, read the article on this website:

Religious Education Preschool to 8th Grade

Registration Information for the 2023-2024 School Year

We are here to support parents in forming their children in the Catholic Faith and engage in our parish community where we worship and grow together in faith. We offer weekly classes for preschool through 8th grade and preparation for the sacraments for children in grades 1 through 8.

You can learn more about our program by clicking on the links for: 

• Early Faith Formation for children age 3 1/2 and Kindergarten 

• Preparation for the Sacraments for students in grade 1-8

• Continuing Faith Formation for students in grade 3 – 8 that have already received First Holy Communion. 

The online registration is open for all our classes from Preschool through 8th grade. Visit our website: www.stpatrickcarlsbad.com 

Click on Religious Education and then Preschool – 8th grade. General information and the online form are at the side bar.

Here is the link to the online registration form: https://www.osvhub.com/st-patrick-catholic-community-1/forms/english-religious-education-1

Contact the Office for Religious Education at [email protected] or 760-729-8442  with questions about faith formation or sacramental preparation.  

Blessings,

Margit Dornisch,

Religious Education and Family Ministry 

Let the Little Ones Come

to Me!

In the summer months we offer Liturgy of the Word for Children during the 9:00 am Mass. Children ages 5-9 that attend Mass with their family have the opportunity to hear the Word of God in language they can understand and reflect on in their own words. 

Following the Opening Prayer of the Mass, the presider calls forth the children, and we send them along with the adult catechist to the church basement classroom. The catechist will proclaim the readings from the Lectionary for Masses with Children, a translation that is more comprehensible to young children and approved by the US Catholic Conference of Bishops. The children will discuss how to share the good news with others. 

They will be brought back to their family at the time of the Preparation of the Gifts to continue the celebration of the Eucharist with the entire assembly.

Un Saludo de parte del Diacono Miguel,

"La semilla cayo en tierra buena y dio fruto” Salmo 64. Todo lo que vemos con nuestros ojos, lo que escuchamos con nuestros oídos, lo que sentimos con nuestras manos, viene de Dios. No hay nada que existe que no es regalo de Dios para nosotros. Este XV Domingo de Tiempo Ordinario, la Iglesia nos da esta parábola de un sembrador que sale a sembrar. El texto del Evangelio de San Mateo nos dice que no toda la semilla cayo en tierra buena y dio fruto bueno. Alguna semilla cayo a lo largo del camino, llegaron los pájaros y se la comieron. Otra semilla cayo en tierra pedregosa, con poca tierra, y cuando salió el sol los brotes marchitaron y se secaron. Y otra semilla, cayo entre espinos que eventualmente sufocaron las plantitas.

Usemos esta parábola para reflexionar, ¿Cómo recibimos la palabra de Dios en nuestros corazones? Todos tenemos experiencias de sentirnos que somos “como tierra buena”, que recibimos la palabra de Dios y actúa en una manera buena y se ve el fruto bueno en nosotros. Y eso nos hace sentir bien. Pero también a veces, sentimos lo contrario. Sentimos que somos “como tierra mala”, que es pedregosa y llena de espinos y la palabra de Dios no entra y no cambia nada en nosotros. Y eso nos frustra y nos hace sentir mal. ¡Pero no desanimarnos! Dios sigue con nosotros, no nos abandona. La clave es mantener nuestra mirada en Jesucristo. Jesús nos da lo que necesitamos para que esta “tierra mala y complicada” dentro de nosotros, se transforme a tierra buena. ¿Quién juzga lo que es tierra buena o tierra mala? Nadie. Solo Dios juzga. Acerquémonos a Dios quien nos ama, con humildad y fe.

Detente

Hablemos de un Sembrador

3821 Adams Street

Carlsbad, California 92008

760.729.2866