The Seed and Soil of God’s Fruitful Word
Perhaps you have noticed that I say a lengthy prayer accompanied by a simple ritual as I hold up the Gospel Book prior to proclaiming the Gospel when I preside at Mass.
The prayer is inspired by Matthew’s version of the parable of the Sower and the Seed (13:1-23) that we hear at Mass this weekend. Luke and Mark also have slightly different versions and I encourage you to read those as well as you prepare to celebrate the Eucharist. See Luke 8:4-15 and Mark 4:1-20 for details.
My prayer, as I both raise the Gospel Book high for all to see, then place it over my heart, is:
Lord, in some small way may EACH of us be an instrument of your Holy Gospel. Plant your word in us, Lord (as I gesture out to you). Plant your word in our hearts, souls and minds. Make our hearts, souls and minds rich soil (additional gestures to all of you) so that YOUR word may take root in us and be fruitful.
I then make the sign of the Cross, touching the Gospel Book when I say SON, the second person of the Trinity, but also the WORD made flesh as it says in John’s Gospel (1:14).
I then proceed to the ambo to proclaim the Gospel with the book over my heart, emphasizing that the proclaiming, hearing and living of the Gospel are matters of our hearts.
The author of Mark’s Gospel tells us that Jesus chastises the disciples for not listening. He says to them, “Don’t you understand?” referring to the meaning of this parable, and then intimates, How are you going to understand anything if you don’t understand this? He then explains the parable and concludes with the importance of ACCEPTING the word.
Luke’s version concludes with Jesus encouraging the disciples to, “…EMBRACE the word with a generous and good HEART and PERSEVERANCE.” In all three versions, Jesus privately explains the parable to them, and particularly in Matthew, he emphasizes its importance in their roles as disciples.
All of these stories tell us of a Jesus who encourages reflection on all of Scripture, not simply the Parable of the Sower. They underscore the importance of scripture in the celebration of the Eucharist. There are so many resources available for this reflection. We offer Bible study programs on a regular basis. All of our Small Christian Communities include some form of reading, reflecting on and sharing scripture. Both Dawn Mayer and I offer weekly podcasts available on our website to give you some background on the scriptures to be proclaimed at the upcoming weekend Masses.
I hope that my prayer before the proclamation of the Gospel, and more importantly, Jesus words in each Gospel’s version of the Sower and the Seed, both challenge and invite you to spend time reflecting on God’s word in scripture.
AI and Scripture Reflection
At our recent Priests’ Convocation Fr. Ed Foley shared some insights on Artificial Intelligence. We all know that there are many advantages to using this resource. Fr. Foley made the simple observation that AI is smart, but it is not wise. Wisdom is a human attribute, and for us as people of faith, it is a human attribute that is elevated by our faith in God, enhanced by the miracles, parables, teachings and example of Jesus Christ. Reflection on the Word of God as a seed is wise. AI could give us an eloquent description of God’s word, but we share wisdom as we gather to share that word.
Rest in Peace, Gary Daigle
Gary passed away on Tuesday after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease. Gary was on our staff here at Holy Family twice as Director of Liturgy and Music from the mid 90’s and again in the early 2000’s. He also served in similar capacities at St. Edna in Arlington Heights. Gary was a talented composer, arranger, producer, pastoral musician, collaborator, and friend to so many. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. May he rest in peace.
Ministry Spotlight-Facilities Committee
We are blessed with a great seven-member committee that advises Scott Baietti, our Director of Operations, and me on all maintenance, building and grounds concerns. They are the chief stewards of our building fund and the upkeep of our 155,000 square foot and 19-acre plant that welcomes so many people with its beauty.
Thanks For Your Patience, as I Thank You
Please be patient with me as I work to acknowledge so many generous gifts that you gave me during my recent Priesthood Anniversary and Birthday. I intend to thank each of you with a personal note, but there are many to thank and limited hours in a day. I will get there, I promise. In the meantime, THANKS A MILLION!!! Your generosity and heartfelt outpouring of emotion have overwhelmed me and touched my heart more than you will ever know!