Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In regions of Mexico hot springs and cold springs are found side by side, and because of the convenience of this natural phenomenon the women often bring their laundry.  They boil their clothes in the hot springs, and rinse them in the cold springs.  A tourist watching this procedure commented to his Mexican guide: “They must think Mother Nature is generous to freely supply such ample, clean hot and cold water.”  The guide replied, “No, senor, there is much grumbling because she supplied no soap.”

In this week’s readings, we hear many different parables, all telling us the same story.  It is in this time of the year, that we hear a lot of the parables that Jesus used to describe the love of the father.  Some of them are easier to understand then others.  We also hear from Paul, in his letters to the Romans.  Paul is talking to us about prayer, and knowing the spirit.

In the Gospel this week, we have the parable of the mustard seed.  The mustard seed, is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it is cared for correctly it grows into the biggest of the crops (of the time).  We also have another farmer sowing seeds.  In this parable the good seed all falls on the good soil, but in the night, the farmers enemy came through and sowed some weeds.  So as the good seed grew into wheat, so did the weeds grow up with them.

Jesus uses these examples to show us that faith, love, and understanding, are not easy.  They take time to grow, and a lot of care.  Faith has sets of road blocks on the way.  Just when you think that all is well, and right in the world, God seems to throw us a curve ball.  God does provide us everything that we need to grow as his children, but there are things that we need to bring to the table as well.

In the second reading we hear, again, from Paul.  Paul is telling the Roman how to know the spirit.  When we do not know what to pray for, then we should put out faith in the spirit, and trust that the spirit will intercede for us.  There are roadblocks set up along the way, but with faith in God, we can overcome any hurdle, even having to bring our own soap to the spring.

The Fifteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time

Well Welcome to those reading this.  This will be the first of, hopefully, many posts.

"Preach the Gospel every day, if nececary use words" ~ St. Francis

The theme of this week’s reading is listening:

There were two men about to tee off.  This was their weekly way of catching up on each other’s lives.  As they sat in the cart waiting to tee off, the one man said to his friend, "My wife talks to herself a lot."  His friend chuckled and answered, "mine does too, but she doesn't know it.  She thinks that I'm listening."

As amusing as this is it is so true of people every day of their lives.  In a world of iPhones, Wi-Fi, facebook, and Email, there almost is no need to listen to people.  We can just read their latest post, and find out what they have going on in their lives.

In this week’s gospel, Jesus tells us of the Parable of the Seeds.  Behold, the sower went forth to sow; and as he sowed, some [seeds] fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured them: and others fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much earth: and straightway they sprang up, because they had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And others fell upon the thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked them: and others fell upon the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He that hath ears let him hear.

In this story, the Seed represents the word of God.  Many people hear the word, but soon lose sight of its meaning.  They do not have the roots to let the word survive long enough.

In the first reading Isaiah tells us that the word, is like rain falling from heaven.  It does not return to the sky until it has saturated the earth, providing the life force for the seed to grow.  Only then, can it return to the heavens.

Listening is not the easiest thing, in the age of soccer games, working parents, dance class, and the like.  When do you have time to listen for the voice of God? We are constantly on the move.  It might help to take a step back, to take a break from the world around you, and offer a prayer up to God for help through the week.  You will be surprised what can happen, when you have the help of the Lord.

So unlike the one golfer, pay attention, for God is not talking to himself.  In hearing you may listen, and understand; and, through understanding comes salvation.