19th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2026 - Prayerful Silence

 

Throughout the Scriptures we find our Lord going to secluded places to pray. In the Gospel today, for example, after a long and arduous day teaching the crowds, healing the sick, performing the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, seeing to the feeding of thousands of people, Jesus climbed a mountain in order to pray in solitude. That living relationship of prayer with the Father was an indispensable dimension of his life and ministry, especially as he prepared to take up his cross.

The Lord’s own prayer is an example for all of us. As the master has done, so must the disciple. We need prayer, every day, to refresh us, and strengthen us, and guide us, in which we go to a quiet place, a quiet room, the church or chapel, to focus our minds and hearts on God, in which we lift up our needs and the needs of our families, and we allow God to speak to us. Quiet solitude is often the place of divine encounter.

This point is illustrated in our first reading from the first book of Kings: there was this loud earthquake, but God was not heard in the loud earthquake, there was this loud booming fire, but God  was not heard in the booming fire, there was a strong driving wind, but God was not heard in the wind. Rather, it was in the tiny whispering sound.  God’s voice was detected and heard in the quiet. The lesson here is that we must become quiet in order to hear the voice of God. We are often deaf to the voice of God because we have failed to become quiet enough to hear Him.  He wants to speak quiet piercing words to our hearts which help us to fall in love with Him; but if we have the television going, the iphones going, the video games going all the time, we will not hear him. 

I’ve shared this before, that the Christian Philosopher Svoren Kierkegaard went so far as to say that the constant busyness of the modern world is a sort of disease. And If he were a doctor he would prescribe as a remedy for this disease, “silence”. Silence has a healing effect because it facilitates that divine encounter—with the source of healing and wisdom and strength.

In the Gospel today, St. Peter began to sink, when he took his focus off of the Lord. Peter had been given a command, “take courage, it is I, do not be afraid.” Here Peter was instructed to focus not on his fears but on Jesus. Similarly for us, we make intentional effort, to reorient our focus the waves and storms of life to Jesus.

Silence from the noise of the world is important. But how about silence from our fears and anxieties, from our anxious thoughts. So often, we do not make the effort to silence ourselves from those—from anxious worrying, from the replaying of past hurt, and anxious planning of future possible scenarios. We replay the argument we had yesterday. We rehearse the argument we might have tomorrow. We fret about our family members, our health, our finances, and our work. We imagine conversations that have never happened and disasters that may never happen. And before long, like St. Peter, we are looking everywhere except at Jesus.

Now, the Lord is not telling us simply to pretend that our problems do not exist. The wind around Peter was real. The waves were real. The storm was real. But so was Jesus.

And Peter's great mistake was allowing the storm to become more important in his mind than the Lord standing before him. That happens to us as well. Anxiety takes something real—or something that might possibly become real—and magnifies it until it fills the whole horizon. But, prayer puts things in proper perspective. Prayer reminds us: this problem is real, but God is greater. I do not know what tomorrow will bring, but God is already there. And all things work for good, for those, who love God.

When anxious thoughts arise, we do not have to entertain every one of them. Not every thought that enters our mind deserves our attention and energy. Most of the time, we simply have to say: “Lord, I give this to you.” Or use the prayer of Peter from today's Gospel: “Lord, save me.” Or that beautiful simple prayer: “Jesus, I trust in you.”

 

That is one of the great purposes of prayer. Prayer is not primarily an attempt to persuade God to arrange everything according to our plans. Prayer is placing ourselves in His presence, focusing on Him, so that our hearts become more aligned with His. Certainly, we bring Him our petitions. Jesus Himself tells us to ask so that we may receive, knock, that the door might be opened. But Christian prayer also says: “Father, here is what I desire; here is what I fear; here is what I cannot control—and I place it into your hands.” Prayer teaches the soul to surrender.

And that is why silence is so important. Kierkegaard recognized that when our lives become filled with constant noise, stimulation, and activity, our hearts and lives lose focus. Silence creates room for God. It also conditions and trains us for those times in life when God is hardest to detect.

We need prayer more than we need anything that is being broadcast on television or the internet. Do you believe that? That you need prayer? Sure, your biological life will not end if you cease praying, many atheists and non-practicing Christians prove that. But when we fail to pray as we should, we will NOT have what we need for the inevitable storms of life and or to be the spouse, parent, teacher, evangelist, priest that God made us to be.

You need prayer—time every day when you stop consuming and reacting and planning and worrying and social climbing, and allow God to renew your heart.

St. John Vianney wrote, “When we pray with attention and humility of mind and heart, we quit the earth and rise to Heaven.  We reach the outstretched arms of God.  We talk with the Angels and the Saints.”

August 11, Tuesday this week, is the feast of St. Clare our parish patron. Her statues and stained glass windows so often depict her holding the monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament—a reminder to us to make extra effort to visit and pray before the Lord present in the Eucharist as we can. If you can, visit our eucharistic chapel throughout the week, or come and pray before the monstrance Wednesday mornings.

Time in prayer is never wasted. It is beneficial to the soul, it provides strength to endure the storms of life and the assaults of the devil. It provides light to detect God in the griefs and confusions of life and the avenue to experience joy and delight in the Lord even in the dark valleys. May we pray in imitation of Jesus himself in order to live rightly his disciples for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

August 5 2026 - St. Mary Major - Our Lady of the Snows

 

In the year 352, during the pontificate of Pope Liberius, a Roman couple, known for their deep faith and generosity to the poor, suffered the sorrow of having no children. With no descendants to inherit their considerable estate, they decided to place their goods in the hands of the Virgin Mary and asked her to show them how to use them for the greater glory of God.

During the night of August 4–5, both the couple and Pope Liberius are said to have received the same message: the Virgin desired a church to be built for her in the place she herself would indicate.

That morning, in the middle of the Roman summer, the Esquiline Hill appeared covered with snow. The Pope went in solemn procession with the couple and following the outline the snow traced on the ground marked the perimeter for the church to be built there in honor of Our Lady. For this reason, the basilica built there was called Our Lady of the Snows. To this day, the legend is commemorated with a shower of white rose petals which are showered from the basilica’s ceiling.

Following the Council of Ephesus, at which Our Lady was honored with the title Theotokos—the Gos bearer—Mother of God— the Basilica was rededicated under the title Santa Maria Maggiore, Saint Mary Major.

No pilgrimage to Rome is complete without a visit to Our Lady’s Basilica. It is breathtakingly beautiful, containing some of the oldest Christian mosaics, relics of the crib of Bethlehem, the relics of St. Jerome who gave us the latin translation of the scriptures which have been used for over 1500 years. It contains one of the most venerated Marian icons of Christendom: the Salus Populi Romani, the Protectress of the Roman People.

Generations of the faithful and practically all the popes of the modern era have prayed before this image. Benedict XIV went every Saturday to sing the Marian litanies, while Saint Paul V asked to be taken before the Virgin only hours before he died. Pope Francis would visit the image before and after his apostolic visits to the various nations of the world, and is now buried in the basilica near the image.

"Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed." He replied, "Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it." Well, Our Lady did all these things, didn’t she. She carried the Word made Flesh in her womb, she nursed Him, and also heard and observed that Word.

The miracle of snows reminds us of Our Lady’s powerful intercession, and to entrust our needs and our treasures to her. The dedication of the basilica reminds us to honor her with beauty and devotion, to make pilgrimage to her shrines, to seek to be near to her in life and in death, to be nurtured and reared by her who nurtured and reared the Word made flesh, and with her to hear the Word of God and observe it, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For the Church, our Holy Mother: That she may continue to nurture and guide the faithful through her teachings and sacraments, bearing Christ to the world in word and deed. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who feel distant from the Church: That they may experience anew the maternal love of Mary and the Church, finding their way back to the family of faith. Let us pray to the Lord.

For vocations to the priesthood and religious life: That many may respond generously to God's call to serve as instruments of His love and mercy within Mother Church. Let us pray to the Lord.

That all government leaders may be awakened to the supreme dignity of every human life, and that all people of our nation may work together for an end to the culture of death.

That members of the Church may be attentive to the needs of those who suffer, and that sick and the poor may be open to the merciful grace of God.

For the deceased members of our families and parishes, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, and for N., for whom this Mass is offered.

We pray, O Lord our God, that the Virgin Mary, who merited to bear God and man in her chaste womb, may commend the prayers of your faithful in your sight. Through Christ our Lord.

 

18th Week in Ordinary Time 2026 - Monday - Beware false prophets

The Apostle Paul, writing to St. Timothy, warned the young bishop that a time was coming when people would no longer tolerate sound doctrine, but would gather around themselves teachers who told them what they wanted to hear. In other words, those who wish to be confirmed in their errors, biases, prejudices, and sins will seek out authority figures who articulate and justify those errors.

Paul warned that there would be not only a great demand for watered-down or plainly erroneous teaching, but also “a great number of teachers” willing to provide it and thereby lead souls farther from the truth of Christ.

Well, in our first reading today, we meet one of these false teachers, the false prophet Hananiah. The people of Judah were facing the terrible consequences of their infidelity and the growing power of Babylon. Jeremiah had faithfully warned them that the exile would not end quickly and that they needed to repent, submit to God’s chastisement, and return to the covenant.

Hananiah, however, told the people what they wanted to hear: that within two years the power of Babylon would be broken, the exiles would return, and the sacred vessels of the Temple would be restored. His message was attractive, reassuring, and patriotic—but it was not from God. Jeremiah therefore confronted him and foretold his death for leading the people into false confidence and rebellion against the Lord.

Jesus likewise warned that false prophets would come in sheep’s clothing, while inwardly they were ravenous wolves. We live in an age filled with religious voices. Through television, podcasts, websites, and social media, anyone can claim authority, present himself as a defender of the faith, and gather followers. Some justify schism; others dismiss settled moral teaching; still others cultivate suspicion, anger, and contempt toward the Pope, the bishops, or the Church herself.

Not every confident voice is a trustworthy voice. Not every message that confirms our preferences comes from the Holy Spirit. We must test what we hear against Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the authentic teaching authority of the Church. Truth bears the fruits of holiness, humility, charity, communion, and obedience. Falsehood often bears pride, bitterness, factionalism, and contempt.

Remaining faithful does not mean pretending that every churchman is perfect or that every prudential decision is beyond criticism. It means refusing to place our private judgment, political loyalties, or favorite commentators above the faith handed down through the Church.

Great discernment and humility is needed in these times. May we prefer the truth that converts us over the message that appeals to our preferences, that we remain close to Christ by remaining faithful to the Church he founded for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Trusting in Christ, who guides his Church in truth, let us bring our prayers before the Father.

For the Holy Church of God, that she may remain steadfast in proclaiming the fullness of the Gospel with courage, clarity, and charity, let us pray to the Lord.

For the Pope, bishops, priests, deacons, catechists, and all who teach the faith, that the Holy Spirit may preserve them from error and make them faithful servants of the truth, let us pray to the Lord.

For Christians who are confused, discouraged, or led astray by false teaching, that they may rediscover the sure guidance of sound doctrine, and that That Christian families may be places where the Christian faith is studied, understood, observed, and cherished, let us pray to the Lord.

For those who influence public opinion through the media and social media, that they may reject manipulation, division, and falsehood, and use their gifts in service of truth and the common good, let us pray to the Lord.

For those who struggle because of addiction, mental illness, chronic sickness, unemployment, or ongoing trials of any kind: may they be healed and strengthened in Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who have died, especially those who helped hand on the faith to us, that they may be welcomed into the fullness of truth and life in the Kingdom of Heaven, let us pray to the Lord.

Father of truth and mercy, preserve us from error and keep us faithful to your Son and to the Church he founded. Hear the prayers we offer in faith, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2026 - "Give them some food yourselves"

 

Each of the four Gospels contain several different stories of Jesus eating with people. He ate with Pharisees and Scribes, tax collectors, prostitutes, and public sinners, he of course he dined with his beloved friends and disciples. In today’s Gospel he breaks bread with thousands of people. In so many of these meals recorded in the Gospels, the Lord takes the opportunity not just to eat, but to teach, by word and example, offering, in fact, some of his most important teachings.

For example,. He dined with hypocritical and antagonistic Scribes and Pharisees, why? Of course, to urge them to repent and believe, but also to give us an example. We need to associate even with people who hate us in hope of their conversion—that God willing through conversation and meal, they can get a glimpse of the goodness and truth to which they have become blinded and maybe come to believe.

The Lord ate with tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners, why? To show them that God invites all people out of love to exchange the stained garments of sin for the wedding garment of the righteous. And also, again to give us an example. We too are to dine with such people. We are to dine with the unrighteous because that’s what the Lamb of God did in order to invite them to His heavenly banquet.

The Lord ate with his disciples, why? To strengthen them, to teach them, to share intimate moments with them. He dined with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and set their hearts on fire with faith. He dined with the apostles on the seashore even after they fled the cross and went back to fishing instead of venturing to the ends of the world to spread the Gospel. At the Last Supper he gave us his flesh and blood to be shed on the cross so that we may become what we receive in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. We are to dine with each other, week after week, at the Lord’s table that our hearts might catch fire, to heal the wounds of sin and division and to be strengthened in love for one another and in holiness for the mission of the Gospel. We are formed as missionary disciples, as Pope Francis rightly said, in the context of what we are doing here, eating and drinking as the Lord commanded us to do.

In the Gospel today, the Lord shares a meal with thousands of people, why? Well, let’s dig in.

Firstly, we see the Lord’s care for the real physical needs of his people. After a day of teaching and healing thousands—he doesn’t want to send them away hungry. Growing up Italian, I get this…no one should leave your home hungry. If you have the chance, feed people. Who doesn’t love being fed. You know someone cares for you, when they feed you. The way to a man’s heart is his stomach, in a very real sense.  

So, we are to feed people. Feed the hungry, it’s an act of charity in imitation of the Lord himself. Notice, too, that none of these thousands of people are named, in the Gospel story today. They are the nameless hungry of the world. We are to feed them, without judgement. They are hungry, so feed them.

Next, is a great detail, and a challenging one. When the disciples bring this concern for the people to the Lord, the Lord responds, “give them some food yourselves.”

“You give them something to eat, you do something to solve this problem.” The Lord speaks those words to you and me.  As members of the Church, God gives us the tremendous responsibility of being his hands and his feet out in the world, feeding the large crowd of the world with physical bread and also leading them to the meal of the spiritual bread of the Eucharist.

Some of you might remember, that In the 1950s and 60s, a movement called Catholic Action which aimed at rallying the Catholic lay faithful for the work of the Gospel out in the world. And Catholic Action had a motto, very simple, three words. “see, judge, act.”  See, judge, act.  First see, open your eyes to what is going on in the Church and in society and in your neighborhood.  Second, judge: make a determination of what can I do, how can I help, how can I serve.  And thirdly, act—if you can do it, do it.

“You give them something to eat.” This is a very challenging teaching because we have a tendency to want to pass the buck on to someone else.  We see a problem and say “someone ought to do something, someone ought to take care of this.”  But today’s Gospel challenges our tendency to remain uninvolved or paralyzed by fear. “You give them something to eat”.

We have a personal responsibility to do what we can in all the different dimensions of the life of the Church:  standing up for life, standing up for religious freedom or the rights of the oppressed, feeding the poor, teaching the ignorant, spreading the Gospel, it’s not merely the pope’s job, or the bishop’s job, or the pastor’s job; every Catholic bears the responsibility for the work of the Church and spreading the Gospel. “You give them something to eat.”

So, on one hand, we have a personal responsibility for the work of God, but, thankfully, on the other hand, we are in it together, we are to work together. The Lord’s command is addressed in the plural—“you all together give them something to eat”, but that just means doing everything I can to work together with my brothers and sisters in Christ for the mission of the Gospel. We bear personal responsibility to work together.

Then at the heart of the story is the miracle. When told to feed the thousands, the disciples do what they can, they gather food, but they find, that it is not enough. “All we have are these five loaves, a couple fish.” So the Lord responds,  “Give them to me!” 

The spiritual lesson?  You and I are to give what we have, even if it is very little, to Christ and it will be multiplied.  Give Christ your mind, your will, your energy, your compassion, your earthly treasures.  See, judge act. Give it to Christ, and you will find that it becomes multiplied for his purposes. 

Catholic parishes, like ours, are just like that small group of disciples, looking at its meager possessions, saying, what can we do with these fives loaves and two fish. But coming together, despite our limitations, we offer what we have to the Lord, and the Lord multiplies.

I’ve been so impressed over this last year as pastor to witness the great generosity of so many of you—giving your time, talent, and treasure for the mission of the parish, and I’m very excited for the years ahead, to witness how the Lord continues to multiply the gifts that are brought forth to him.

But I do encourage you, please consider how you can contribute to the mission of the parish—whether in volunteering in our parish events, participating in ministries, or discerning new ones. I love when parishioners come to me with ideas of ways they’d like to get involved. I love helping you discern how you can put your gifts and talents—your loaves and fish--in service to God.

So, I repeat the invitation I made when I began my pastorate, if there’s any ministry that you’d like to get involved in, or a ministry that you’d like to start up, please let me know. That’s why we are here, To see, judge, act, and to put our loaves and fishes into the hands of God.

In your daily prayer especially, ask the Lord, what can I do to help, what are the needs that I am called to act upon, what are the loaves and fishes of my life, that you want me to hand over to you, how are you calling me to work together with my fellow parishioners, my brothers and sisters in Christ, for the work God has for us, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 

July 15 2026 - St. Bonaventure - Marian Protection and Christian Perfection

 

The Church celebrates today the Feast of St. Bonaventure.  When we celebrate the saints, we reflect on the lessons from their lives on how to be a more faithful follower of Jesus Christ. 

St. Bonaventure met St. Francis of Assisi as a young boy, in fact, it is said that St. Francis miraculously cured Bonaventure of a serious disease.  As a young man, Bonaventure joined the Franciscans, and it was immediately evident that he was a genius. Bonaventure went on to be one of the great academics intellects of the middle ages along with St Thomas Aquinas, writing biblical commentaries and theological and philosophical treatises. Bonaventure wrote the official biography of St. Francis’ life, which is still read today, 750 years after his death.

St. Bonaventure was declared by Pope Sixtus V as a Doctor of the Church.  For Bonaventure’s great insight into the spiritual life and into theology really shapes the way we understand what it means to be a follower of Jesus. 

St. Bonaventure wrote, “Whoever wishes to ascend to God must first avoid sin, which deforms our nature; he must pray to receive restoring grace; he must lead a good life, to receive purifying justice; he must meditate, to receive illuminating knowledge; he must practice contemplation, to receive perfecting wisdom.” 

Avoid Sin. Pray to receive restoring grace. Meditate. Practice contemplation.

In the spiritual life, St. Bonaventure also taught praying for the protection of Our Lady against the temptations of the devil. St. Bonaventure writes, “Deliver me, O Lady, from all evil: and from the infernal enemy defend me. Against me he hath drawn his bow: and in his craftiness he hath laid snares for me. Restrain his evil power: and powerfully crush his craft. Turn back his iniquity on his own head: and let him speedily fall into the pit which he hath made. But we will rejoice in thy service: and we will glory in thy praise.”

Bonaventure writes, of course, about looking to the life and example of Jesus, our Lord. He writes, “In all your deeds and words you should look upon this Jesus as your model. Do so whether you are walking or keeping silence, or speaking, whether you are alone or with others. He is perfect, and thus you will be not only irreprehensible, but praiseworthy.”

May St. Bonaventure, help us indeed, to Avoid sin. Pray. Meditate. Contemplate. Seek Mary’s Protection. And Follow Jesus’ example, that we may obtain that perfection for which we were made, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For Pope Leo, Bishop Malesic and all of the clergy: may their lives and ministry be marked by truth, holiness and zeal for souls. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all theologians, teachers, students, and scholars: that their studies may lead not to pride, but deeper union with God. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our parish community: that, following the example of Saint Bonaventure, we may avoid sin, pray fervently, meditate deeply, contemplate heavenly things, and imitate Jesus in all our words and deeds. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For the faithful departed: that they may behold the Lord face to face and enter into the perfect wisdom and joy of heaven. Let us pray to the Lord.

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy. Through Christ our Lord.

 

 

 

July 13 2026 - St. Henry: King, Emperor, Husband - A house built on rock

 

When most people hear the name King Henry, they probably think of King Henry VIII, who ruled in England in the 1500s and brought about a break with the Roman Catholic Church. 

The King Henry who we honor today wasn’t King of England at all. Rather, he was crowned King of Germany on July 9, 1002 and 12 years later was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Benedict VIII. 

Henry took up the Imperial Crown in a time of instability in Europe—there were ongoing wars, rebellions, and contested authority in multiple regions of the Empire. So, one of the great goals of Henry’s reign was to establish a stable peace in Europe.  He knew that the Gospel of Christ was indispensable for society, and he devoted himself to the spread of Christianity by rebuilding churches. He promoted monastic reform where needed, believing monasteries to be indispensable centers of prayer and focal points for the civilization of people.  He himself was a Benedictine Oblate.

Though wealthy, he had a great concern for the poor of his lands.  He saw material possessions as blessings from God meant to help others.  And it was his custom to undertake nothing without prayer and often saw angels and martyrs guiding him—protecting him and his army who guarded his lands from the encroaching barbarian hoards. 

When Saint Henry was not ruling over his empire and leading his army to stabilize Europe, he was cultivating a holy marriage with his wife.  He and his wife St. Cunegunda are among the dozen or so pairs of married canonized saints.

So the Gospel today, of the wise man’s house built on the solid rock foundation of Christ’s teaching is so fitting for this holy saint, which can refer, in St. Henry’s case, to both his holy marriage and his belief that the empire too must be built on Christ, infused with Christ, and directed toward Christ.

Here is a man who rightly integrated his Christian mission with his earthly responsibilities and his vocation as husband. If a Holy Roman Emperor can do it, so can we. 

St. Henry used the time he had, his social position, his influence, his earthly power to spread the kingdom of God; he put his time, talent, and treasure to build up and preserve what was good and to guard his realm against those powers which threaten to tear down what is holy.  May St. Henry’s prayers help us to do the same for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Through the intercession of Saint Henry, we pray for all rulers of nations and those in governance, may they use their temporal power to build up, promote, and protect what is good and holy.

That our young people on summer vacation may be kept safe from the poisonous errors of our culture, and that their families may be places where the faith is practiced and cherished.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious, and for N. for whom this mass is offered.

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy. Through Christ our Lord.

 

 

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2026 - Parable of the Sower

 

One of the hallmarks of the Lord’s preaching and teaching is his use of parables. Through parables, the Lord drew upon images, ideas, and customs from the everyday life of 1st century Israel—like farming and seeds. Through the parables the Lord challenged the preconceptions of his listeners and lead them to truth, utilizing familiar imagery that even children could connect with. Yet the parables, when pondered, are profound enough to challenge the holiest of saints.

And I say the parables are challenging because they are demanding. They demand some personal engagement, a decision, usually to change our thoughts or behaviors.

In the parable of the good Samaritan, for example, the listener has a choice. Who do I want to be in that story? Who does God want me to be? The self-occupied Levitical priest who passes by on the other side of the road when he glimpses a man in need? Or the good Samaritan who comes to the aid of the stranger? Hearing this parable, you have a choice.

In the parable where Jesus likens the kingdom of God to the pearl of great price, again the listener, has a choice. Will I pursue the kingdom of God, the values of God as the most important thing in my life, or not? Will I allow God to order my priorities, or not?

This weekend, one of the great parables—the parable of the sower—where Lord talks about the different types of soil. And each of those different types of soil represent the different types of responses to his preaching. And again, the listener has a choice: will I make my mind and heart receptive to the truth of God, or not? Will I clear away the thorns of my earthly attractions and distractions or not?

Let’s examine those four different types of responses to the Lord’s preaching. First there is the seed thrown on the path which is quickly eaten up by birds. Seed thrown on the sidewalk can’t take root, the sidewalk is too hard. So, too, hearts can becomes so hardened to God by sin and pride, that the preaching of the Gospel really has no effect on them. They might hear a nice sermon in Church or a fully accurate presentation of the Church’s moral theology, but they are unwilling to trade their sins for conversion and deep faith. Their pride doesn’t allow them to learn or experience anything new about God, because they don’t think they need to.

Now there appear to be a lot of hardened souls these days. But there are countless stories of souls, once hardened toward God, stories of atheist whose hearts melted when exposed to a beautiful liturgy, or a beautiful act of charity by a Catholic.

So just because a soul is hardened in pride, right now at this very moment, doesn’t mean they will be lost forever. God is at work to soften all hearts, and likely his instruments to accomplish this miracle are people like you and me. So we do well to remember the hardened soul in our daily prayers, especially the rosary.

The second type of soil described by the Lord was the rocky ground. Our souls are rocky ground when we listen to the Gospel without the willingness keep the faith through rocky times. Here is the person who is initially enthused about the faith; maybe they have a powerful experience of the Lord at a retreat or in Catholic school, maybe they go through OCIA, but they get a glimpse of the cross and instead of taking it up, they run away from it.

There’s probably a lot of lapsed Catholics in this category. Those who experienced some rockiness in their life, and gave up on religion. Or those who have dug in their feet in opposition to some church teaching. Our souls fail to bear fruit when we do this. And we are sadder for it.

But, again, we shouldn’t despair for these souls either. Plenty of lapsed Catholics come home each year. But again, these souls are brought back to God through prayers and penances offered up for them.

Thirdly, we heard of the seed sown among thorns. Our souls are thorny when they are full of the attachments and distractions of the world. Thorns like selfishness, lust, impatience, or resentment can cause the fire of faith to diminish, the seed of God’s grace to be choked out. Addictions especially can become so thorny they rip our souls to shreds. These spiritual thorns hinder the life God wants to grow in us. So, new Catholics and life-long Catholics must ensure that we stop the thorns from growing by making frequent examination of our conscience and frequent confession.

Lastly, the Lord speaks of rich soil—the seed sown in rich soil. Our souls are rich soil when we hear God’s Word, when we accept its ramifications even with the willingness to suffer for it, when we clear out the thorns, the distractions and the attachments, and we seek to understand and live out the Gospel the best we possibly can.

When we allow the Gospel to be planted deep in our hearts, when we do our part to nurture the life of grace through prayer and charity, our souls bear tremendous fruit.

We see the flourishing of grace particularly in the lives of the Saints. This week, on Wednesday, July 15 we celebrate one of the great Franciscan saints, St. Bonaventure, who is considered a sort of “second Founder” of the Franciscan Order. In order to cultivate that exuberant and joyful Franciscan Spirit, Bonaventure stressed the importance of studying the Word of God and serving Christ with a burning heart.

Is your heart on fire with love of God? If not, why not? It’s possible, you know. It’s possible for each and every one of us, for our souls to catch fire. That’s the ultimate good fruit that’s available to us through study, and prayer, and charity—a burning love for Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified.

That’s the harvest God of abundant fruit that God wants for us—a burning love of Jesus that transforms us. And again Bonaventure, and so many of the saints, show us how to achieve that. We must make our souls into rich soil for the Word of God—through  prayer, frequent honest and humble confession of sins, meditation on Scripture, and intentional acts of mercy.

May we do all that we can to make our hearts into that rich soil praised by the Lord, hearts like his, obedient to the Father, full of mercy and compassion, and willingness to carry our crosses for the glory of God and salvation of souls.