In this Sunday’s gospel Jesus relates a parable about letting the weeds grow with the wheat until the final harvest. While democracies need a free and diligent press, Rupert Murdoch’s global media empire has come under fire this past week for harmful and unethical journalistic practices . . .

God’s tolerance and forgiveness are front and center in this week’s responsorial psalm and the reading from the Book of Wisdom. They are nowhere to be found, however, in the deteriorating relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan . . .

“An enemy has done this,” the householder in this Sunday’s gospel concludes upon seeing weeds growing up with his wheat. As the dust settles over shell-shocked Mumbai, India in the wake of a series of bombs that killed at least 20 people Wednesday . . .

The combative partisanship on display in the nation’s capital these days is a far cry from the kind and gracious manner in which the Lord exercises power, this Sunday’s readings suggest. “With much lenience you govern us,” says the Book of Wisdom, and “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness” . . .

“Two ships did not stop, although we waved our hands.”

Since the 1970s Americans have gone from eating 3.8 to 4.9 meals a day and also consume about 22 percent more calories. In addition, the U.S. Coast Guard recently raised its weight estimate of the average boat passenger from 160 to 185 pounds.