Was there a good point or two in the sermon you heard during your Mass to fulfill your Sunday obligation?
Let us know.
For my part, taking a cue from the Gospel for Sexagesima Sunday, the parable of the sower and the seed, I spoke about preparing the terrain of the mind and heart to receive the Word of God which is extended to us in every spoken and sung word in Holy Mass. Of course that applies more to the TLM which sticks to Mass texts than it might to a OF Mass with hymns that substitute for Mass texts, but I digress.
If we want something to grow well, we prepare the soil beforehand so that the seed has the best environment in which it can germinate and sprout. Looking at the texts of Mass before Mass is a good way to do that. Then, attending carefully during Mass with the active receptivity that the Church wants for us, results in a good sowing of the seed. Afterward, we don’t just forget about it. We still have to tend the planted seed, by keeping it watered and warm. So, we should for the first part of the week review what we had heard at the last Sunday Mass. Then, start over.
Loading ...
If we think the Apostle Paul is being overly dramatic about the travails he’s undergone, we should try looking at the drama we make in our own lives, and consider how much seed is falling on those thorns.
Our pastor gave a sermon on the priestly celibacy. He said the evidence, or lack thereof, about St. Peter’s family seems most likely to indicate that he was a widower with adult children when he began to follow Christ. He also made the point that celibacy allows keeps priests from having a divided heart–divided between a wife and children and his parishoners. He believes celibacy is a great gift to God’s Church.
Our priest just recently returned from a weeklong Opus Dei retreat in Texas, and talked about the importance of getting away to pray, even if it was just a few minutes a day. Encouraged us to visit the adoration chapel, turn off the TV. Reminded me of the Cardinal Sarah’s most recent book. Even better, the music director sang the communion antiphon in Latin, and the post-communion song by the Schola was Laudate Dominum by Mozart. Of course, this was a NO mass. Last week we attended an EF mass by a FSSP priest, who more or less was checking boxes, and made a comment in his homily about “women worrying about a stack of dishes, while men had to worry about providing for their families.” The wife was not amused.
Our priest talked about preparing for Lent, the 7 deadly sins and the cardinal virtues. Excellent!
The parable of the sower can be viewed in 2 ways – us as the seed, or as the sower. As the seed, are we landing on fertile ground or are we choked with worldly concerns? As the sower it is our job to evangelize and spread the gospel. This is hard as often our seed will land on barren ground.
Referred to the recent spate of 12 school shoots so far in 2018 and the frustration around nothing really being done about it except for more cameras, better doors and stronger locks. And “thoughts and prayers.” Roman Catholic Christianity is about more than mere “thoughts and prayers.” The Marcan portrait of Jesus does indeed report his going off on his own to reflect and pray, but he clearly does much more than that; he heals Peter’s mother-in-law, he casts out demons, he heals the sick. He reaches out in mercy an compassion; he dries tears. Our practice of Roman Catholic Christianity needs to consist of more than “thoughts and prayers;” we, like Jesus, are called to be agents of transitive change and healing in the world, society and in our relationships.