July 24 2019 - St. Charbel Mahkluf - Seeds grow in silence

One of the characteristics of the Parables of Jesus, is that they are not always immediately comprehensible. They take a little figuring out. Though Jesus uses symbolism and images that regular folks were familiar with, the meaning of the parable still needed to be pondered.

Our Lord puts the responsibility on the listener to take the time to understand, to take the lesson to heart. We do well to take the Scriptures, sit down with them, to ponder the message and applicability to our own life. Bible study, both individual and with others, should be undertaken often.

Today’s parable is one of the few that Our Lord takes the time to explain in detail, and we will hear do that in Friday’s Gospel. So, I won’t belabor that too much today, especially since I’d like to say a word about the saint we honor today.

The saints, like St. Charbel Makhluf who we honor today, are a lot like those parables. From a distance, we hear the lives of the saints, and respond, “oh that’s nice.” But they have so much to teach us, when we study their lives. Pope Benedict would say that the saints are a “school of prayer”, they instruct us how to nurture that deeper intimacy with God, to not settle for a superficial prayer life, like seed that fails to take root.

St. Charbel was a Maronite Catholic, born in a small mountain village in north Lebanon in 1828. Charbel spent his early years as a shepherd, and spent much time in quiet reflection and prayer.  At age 23, he joined the monastery of St. Maron, was ordained a priest, and lived as a hermit until his death in 1898.  His deepest desire was to live a life of prayer and solitude where he could focus his attention on Christ. 

We are not all called to be hermits, but the hermits remind us that each of us does need a great love of quiet and solitude in which we can seek the heart of Christ and the face of God.  Jesus himself would often go to quiet deserted places in order to seek His Father’s Will.

The hermits are witnesses that the kingdom of noise and distraction of our digital age is not the true kingdom.  The graces of the true kingdom—prudence, temperance, fortitude, justice, faith, hope, and love— are found when we withdraw from distraction in prayer. Seeds after all, grow in silence.

May St. Charbel and the holy consecrated hermits continue to enrich the Church by their, meditation, silence and penance, and teach us to seek first the kingdom of God, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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That every member of the Church may cultivate minds, hearts, and souls to receive the Word of God more deeply and fruitfully.

That leaders of nations may find guidance in the Word of God for proper governance and the pursuit of justice for all.

That Christian families may be places where the Word of God is studied, understood, obeyed, and cherished.

That the word of God may bring consolation to all those who suffer: for the sick, those affected by inclement weather or political turmoil, the indigent, those who will die today, and those who grieve.

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.

O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all goodness, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain.