The Parable of the Sower of the Seeds is one of the classic parables. Parables seemed to be Jesus’ preferred way of teaching. All parables, including today’s, have these four things in common: 1) They always bring out a truth, not a scientific or historical, more a mythical truth. Think of when you were a child and your parents read you a fairy tale. They were not true as far as talking foxes go or trolls living under bridges go, ...
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I’ve recently started gardening and I’ve planted flowers and vegetables. I’ve found this to be a truly rewarding and satisfying hobby. Even so, it’s not an easy one. One has to think of so many things! Where to plant, what to plant, prepping the soil, checking dates for the plants you’ve chosen, planting the seeds, watering, keeping the weeds out, making sure your plants have room to grow, fertilizer(?) and of course, reaping what you’ve sown. Honestly, these ten steps seem really easy but it takes much work ...
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There are two Old Testament prophets of the O.T. who had particularly keen and powerful visions of a Messiah who was to come. One is the Prophet Isaiah that we hear a lot about during Advent. He lived about 700 years before the birth of Jesus. He speaks about what seems to be impossible scenarios like a lion and lamb lying down together (lions eat lambs the last time I checked); a baby putting his hand in a snake’s den and the snake not harming it ...
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Each time we celebrate Eucharist together, we are reminded that we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, a cloud of Saints. In the Apostles’ Creed, which we profess each Sunday, we say, “I believe in the communion of saints.” In other words, we believe in an eternal bond between us and all those who have gone before us, between Saints and saints in the making. We invoke the Saints in each Eucharistic Prayer: “And so, with the Angels and ...
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Within this Sunday’s three readings there are a couple of themes which dovetail well with each other, themes prominent in our Christian life. Theme one is dying and being buried with Christ in baptism, and theme two is about hospitality.
The first reading and gospel have to do with hospitality. We hear in the Book of Kings about a wealthy woman who welcomes the prophet Elisha into her house and something good happens to her as a result. In the same vein of welcoming, Jesus, ...
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I always like to imagine myself being in the group of people Jesus is addressing when I read passages of Scripture like we see in today’s Gospel. We are told that Jesus is speaking to his Apostles, a group who have come to know him pretty well and, by this time, have grown somewhat accustomed to the challenges he places before them. Having said that, if I were tucked away in the corner of the room listening, I would be somewhat put-out, to say the least. I ...
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In the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), and particularly in the Book of Exodus, there is a strong emphasis on “remembering.” Moses, speaking the words of God, would often say: Remember the Lord brought you out of slavery and provided you with manna and water as you journeyed through the desert. Remember to keep the Sabbath holy. Remember that you were slaves at one time so never mistreat anyone under you.
Remembering is so important in faith. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” That is ...
Continue Reading →Pope Francis has declared May 2020 to May 2021 to be a special anniversary year for Laudato Si’ – Caring for our Common Home.
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In the Gospel for this Sunday it states that Jesus said to His apostles, “Fear no one; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” In saying these words, Jesus describes the worth of human beings in the eyes of God, who ...
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On this Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, a strange thing is happening, both in the readings and in our lives. As you get older and you grow in your knowledge of who Christ is more and more, you simultaneously grow in self-knowledge. This true self, who you are in God, and not who others want you to be or some persona of who you would like to be, was given at conception and takes a lifetime to discover. Discovering the true God and ...
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