There is a Longing

Matthew 13:1-23 In discussing today's Gospel, The Parable of the Seed, many reiterate Jesus' explanation of the seeds being dropped to where it falls within us. The seed dropped on the path is for those of us who hear the Word of God, but do not understand it & it is stolen away by the evil one. On rocky ground, we hear & receive the Word with joy, but it only lasts a short time & falls away when we go through struggles or trials. When we hear the word, but choose to follow the temptations & lures of the world, that is the seed sown among thorns. The only seed which produces much fruit & yields plenty is the one sown on fertile ground...those who live lives fully steeped in the Faith. At various times in my life, the seeds of our Faith have fallen in each of those locations.  Seed dropped on the path: This would be the early times of my faith life. As a child, I was not one to ask questions when I didn't understand something.  These are the times the see...

"One might almost say that an apparition is human vision corrected by divine love. I do not see you as you really are, Joseph; I see you through my affection for you. The Miracles of the Church seem to me to rest not so much upon faces or voices or healing power coming suddenly near to us from afar off, but upon our perceptions being made finer, so that for a moment our eyes can see and our ears can hear what is there about us always." (Bishop Latour, Death Comes for the Archbishop   by Willa Cather)

Matthew 11:25-30 “...for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones.” A child’s mind is like a sponge, as we’ve heard many times. It’s easier to learn a foreign language or memorize a poem as a child than as an adult. Why is that? I don’t know of any specific studies done on the subject (although I’m sure there are some out there), but personally I believe it’s because a child’s mind is not bogged down with the worries, stresses, & responsibilities we adults have weighing on our minds. “But the world is full of voices, and as time passes, we begin to ignore the voice within. The more we question it, doubt it, and ignore it, the fainter it grows – until one day it becomes so faint that we have to strain to hear it at all. We spend the rest of our lives trying to reclaim that gentle voice.” (Matthew Kelley, from his book The Rocking Chair Prophet) Jesus knows this and freely reveals Himself & glimpses of Heaven to ...

 “In boxing, if a boxer is guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct he may be exiled from holding a bout in certain states… Hockey, a player can be put in a hot seat for two minutes. Football, thrown off the field for unsportsmanlike conduct. So on for other sports… Now, should not politics play just as fair a game as a sport?”   - Archbishop Fulton Sheen ********** Th is should also apply in many other aspects of life as well...education, business, entertainment, healthcare! Bottom line...follow the Golden Rule & be kind to others!

Matthew 10:37-42 Seek J.O.Y. --> J esus - O thers - Y ourself This Gospel sounds kind of harsh at first, doesn't it? We've always been taught to respect our elders & love our families, but here we have Jesus saying that whoever loves Mom, Dad, son, or daughter more is not worthy of Him. Some may even say that Jesus sounds selfish. I whole-heartedly disagree.  Reading today's Gospel, I was reminded of the acronym above. By putting Jesus first in our lives & following the path He has set for us, we become like Him. All our thoughts, words, & deeds become a reflection of His working within our lives. Once we align our lives in a way that is pleasing to Him, we begin to treat others with love, respect, & compassion, placing their needs above our own. In doing so, we live in a sacrificial way that inspires others to want to follow Him. This echoes the words I pray each time I receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist.  "Thank you, Lord, fo...