Gulf Pine Catholic

6 Gulf Pine Catholic • July 10, 2020 9274 Hwy 49/Airport Gulfport, MS 39503 228-863-5525 1-800-880-2446 FAX: 228-863-9612 www.butchoustalet.com 1260 Ocean Springs Road, Ocean Springs, MS 39564 Ph: 228-818-0650 For more information, contact Jody Ellis Stoddard, Executive Director or email her at gardensED@BlueHarborSL.com Web Address: www.gardensseniorliving.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheGardensSeniorLivingOceanSprings Thank you, Jesus, Mary, St. Jude, & St. Anthony, for prayers answered. CS While doing research for a new book; author, evangelist and president of Renewal Ministries, Dr. Ralph Martin, discovered a 1976 prophecy delivered by then President of Franciscan University of Steubenville, Father Michael Scanlon. The prophecy, spoken in the context of asking listeners if they are willing to depend on God alone, warned of lawlessness and churches with bars across the doors. “Are you willing to see no law, no order, no protection for you except that which I, myself will give you? ... Are you willing to see no country to call your own except those I give you as my body? ... Are you ready to base your life only on me and not on any particular structure?” These words may or may not carry the great weight of the prophets of old chosen by God -- only time will tell. But with COVID- 19 and the troubling times it has brought to the world, they are a reminder of our need to seek the Lord more fervently than we have ever before. C.S. Lewis wrote: “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” You can read the entire article at ncregister.com/daily-news/ father-michael-scanlons-1976-prophecy-and-the- events-of-2020 Today’s first reading is God’s invitation to the people who chose to disconnect from God’s ways. Exiled in a foreign land they had no homeland, and no temple for worship or offering traditional sacrifices, but they had a prophet, God’s mouthpiece who spoke truth that was often rejected. “Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down without returning…so shall my word be…achieving the end for which I send it” (Isaiah 55:10-11). This prophecy has a double meaning. First, God spoke life in Genesis. “Let there be light…” and there was light. “Let us create…” and creation happened. The power of God’s utterance shows itself in creation -- when the word is issued forth, something happens -- achieving God’s purpose. Second, from John’s gospel. “In the beginning (Genesis 1:1) was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…and the word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:1- 14). Here, John is writing about the person of Jesus Christ. Christ is, in person, the fullness of God and the fullness of His Word. His words do not separate themselves from Him once uttered. He delivers himself, the Word that enlightens the mind and transforms the heart. God intends his word to be effective and will find a willing vessel to receive it joyfully and proclaim it fervently. Let us pray that we may be those vessels. Psalm 65 calls for a good harvest among God’s people. That harvest manifests when the seed of God’s Word falls on the good fertile soil of humility, faith, obedience, and action for God’s glory. We are the ground on which that seed falls. Open your ears, mind, and heart to listen when God’s word is read and preached and pray for discernment when it is spoken prophetically. Having heard, we seek understanding a deeper meaning of God’s word. Use the many resources the Church offers to gain knowledge of the moral and spiritual dimensions of your faith. If a subject is confusing, rather than following popular opinion, search the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Papal Encyclicals, documents from Vatican Councils, and reputable Catholic web sites. Hearing and understanding should lead to action that produces good fruit. What evidence can you provide that demonstrates God’s word has fallen on good soil? After warning the Christians in Rome to stop making poor choices by glorifying the flesh (Romans 7:7-25), Paul, challenges them to pursue holiness, through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Since holiness was impossible if the old self (self-interest) was their primary goal, he contrasts the desires of the flesh with the will of the Spirit. To gain the higher prize, life in the Spirit, we put our hope in eternal rather than present things. Trials and burdens of everyday life will always be with us, but will we allow them to crush our spirit, rob our joy and dampen our faith? “I consider the sufferings of the present time as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us” (Romans 8:18). Paul has a total and singular focus and trust in the Lord regardless of the circumstances -- strive for that holiness which no earthly lure can take away. Today’s Gospel from the beginning of Matthew Chapter 13 represents a definitive shift in Jesus’ ministry. Prior to this we see Jesus teaching in the synagogues but now we find Him teaching in the streets and employing a new method of teaching: the use of parables. Someone has described a parable as an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Today Jesus’ pulpit is a boat while his audience stood along the shore. The Parable of the Sower is familiar to those who pay attention to the scriptures and would have also been recognized by those hearing it the first time. Sowing seed and the various types of soil it fell on were an everyday part of life in first century Palestine. The seed is a metaphor for the word of God. Although the parables meaning is explained in today’s Gospel there could be confusion about Jesus saying, “This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand …lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted and I heal them” (Matthew 13:13-15). Jesus knew those whose hearts were hardened against Him. Even when they witnessed his miracles, wisdom, and compassion they were quick to find fault and plot His death. We too will encounter people, perhaps some close and dear to us, whose hearts are hardened against God. While it can be discouraging when our reaching out is rejected, today’s Gospel assures that regardless of the heart condition (soil) of the hearer, we can still sow seeds of prayer, our witness of faith, and charity that will soften at least some hearts and lead them to the Lord. Last week I sent a prayer text to about 40 people. One response that came back read, “You have no idea how timely this is.” I responded, “You’re right, I don’t. I just plow the field and God chooses where and when to bring the harvest.” Deacon Ralph Torrelli lives in Hattiesburg and is assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. Visit his website: www.homi- lypearls.com. 1st Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11 Responsorial Psalm: 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14 2nd Reading: Romans 8:18-23 Gospel: Matthew 13:1- 23 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Word takes flesh Deacon Torrell i Sunday Scripture Commentaries