Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection for - Sunday, July 12, 2026

The message of the first reading this weekend could be stated, “God is God, we are not.”This puts things into proper perspective, and invites us into a deeper understanding of God’s role and our own. 

God tells us that He created the rain and snow with a purpose which is ALWAYS fulfilled.  In just the same way, God created His Word, which He says, “goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”  The heart of the image here is life. Rain and snow that come down and provide life-giving water causing the earth to blossom. When the earth does not receive this moisture, life shrivels-up. Seeds do not sprout and grow. What is green, turns brown.

God continues, “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth.” This is about God’s Word that gives life, that does what it is intended to do, that accomplishes, that succeeds in God’s purpose. God’s Word does not return empty.  The power of the Word of God is not to be underestimated. Yet, in a world that clamors for measurable results, how often do we doubt God’s promise?

The rain can achieve everything for the earth. ‘So also, My Word accomplishes everything.’ The effect is the same. For neither one is understood. We might think that the strength belongs to the earth instead of to the rain and snow, but when we experience the absence of rain, we see how little the earth produces. So, God makes it clear that, without the rain, the earth can accomplish nothing.   

Martin Luther suggested that this paragraph is an attempt to console the weak of faith because the Word seems so weak and foolish that those of weak faith find it impossible that the Word could be strong enough to right this very sorry world.  They cannot believe that all the power, victory, and triumph of God are in His Word.  Fortunately, just as we don’t have to understand the rain and the snow to benefit from the life-giving water that they bring, we don’t have to understand how the Word will accomplish God’s plan for the world.  We simply have to trust in God’s Word! 

Fr. Mike