17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A)

One of the benefits of my neighborhood visits has been getting to know each of our families a little better. It also helps me make a personal connection with the many wonderful people that make up our parish. So far, I have been to about 150 houses and each one of them has been a little different. When you walk through a tight-knit community like Shrewsbury, you start to see individual’s personalities and passions displayed in various ways. For example, some homes have perfectly manicured lawns, with beautiful flowerbeds, perennial gardens, and trimmed trees. It's like walking into a miniature botanical garden. Other people focus less on their yard and more on their home. These are the folks whose house looks like it belongs in a magazine. The exterior of their home is perfectly cared for, they have done all the preventative repairs and everything is up-to-date. But these are not the only types, some people don't worry too much about the yard, or their house, but instead put everything into their car, or in some cases, cars. Finally, there are those who devote their interest and energy to collectibles or books or electronics or any other number of things. Each of these homes, all of which I have seen during my walk through this neighborhood, gives a clue to what the passion, the treasure of their owners might be. 

We humans are like that. We invest a part of ourselves in projects, hobbies, and other activities as expressions of who we are and what is important to us. We like to gather little treasures during our time here on earth. Each person does so a little differently, but most of us spend a fair amount of time and energy acquiring and caring for things we like. We do this, even though we realize that these possessions will not last forever, in some cases they might only last a short time.

In today's Gospel, Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a hidden treasure buried in a field. In this lesson, Jesus shows us that only the one who is wise realizes how precious this treasure really is. To the one who has knowledge, to the one who appreciates the greatness of this divine gift, well, this person is willing to give up everything else in order to secure it. Jesus continues with another parable, comparing the kingdom of God to a pearl of incredible value. Once again, the person who discovers it, a person possessing wisdom and understanding, does everything in their power to make sure that this pearl becomes theirs no matter what the cost. The point of Jesus’ teaching is clear: the good news of the gospel is that treasure, that pearl of great price. In fact there is nothing in heaven or on earth, that has greater value. Those who are wise and blessed with understanding from God will realize that they should spare no cost in making this good news their own. 

Of course this sounds easy enough; why wouldn't anyone want to acquire this treasure Jesus talks about? The reason is simple; gaining possession of the kingdom of heaven is possible for everyone but it comes at a great cost. We cannot be devoted to this mission while still being immersed in our desires for earthly treasure. In order to obtain the pearl of great price, our full passion, our greatest treasure must be following God and keeping his Commandments.

 

Now does this mean that we cannot have beautiful lawns, nice houses, fun cars, or interesting collectibles? Not necessarily, unless these things are pulling us away from what is truly important. Perhaps we can look to our first reading for wisdom and guidance. King Solomon was a man who was incredibly blessed by God. He ruled a powerful, massive kingdom inherited from his father, King David. Both he and his realm were prosperous, rich, and wanting for nothing. God comes to him in a dream and tells him to ask for anything and he will give it. Imagine if you were in that situation! What would you ask for? Would you even know? Or would you have so many competing desires, that God's offer would leave you speechless and conflicted? 

This is certainly not the case with Solomon. Immediately he knows what to ask for. He does not ask for more riches, or power, or pleasure, or a long life. The one thing he does ask for is godly wisdom. In other words, he wants God to bless him with the ability to know how to use the many blessings he has already received. This really is the most perfect thing to ask for. If Solomon has wisdom, he will know exactly how to use the blessings of his life in a way that benefits him, his people, and gives glory to God.

As we listen to these readings today, we recognize that we too are people richly blessed. We have so many things to be grateful for, yet how often we focus on the things we don’t have. If we want to be happy, both in this life and for eternity, we must pray for the wisdom of God to permeate our lives. This divine wisdom will teach us how to live each and every day. It will show us what is important and what we need to let go of. It will guide us in using properly the material blessings we have, each in the measure God has decided.

The hidden treasure of the kingdom of heaven is right before us in our Catholic faith. This treasure is priceless with the riches found in the Scriptures, the Sacraments, and the Tradition of the Church. The pearl of great price is the Eucharist, where Christ, without any blemish of sin or any other imperfection, becomes our spiritual food and drink. Christ advises to “sell” whatever we have in order to obtain these things for ourselves. In other words, we must be willing to let go of anything and everything in our lives that might keep us from following Christ and growing in holiness. Only an understanding heart, filled with the wisdom of Solomon, will know how to do these things. 

So let us ask God constantly for an understanding heart, just as King Solomon did in our first reading. May you and I look for that priceless treasure, which is the kingdom of God, each and every day of our lives. And let us not be afraid to let go of whatever we have, whether it is material, spiritual, or psychological, that might keep us from obtaining that priceless spiritual treasure. For in the kingdom of heaven we will obtain real power, authentic riches, and lasting happiness and we will rejoice in them for all eternity. 

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A)

Last Sunday, we heard the parable of the sower and the seed and discovered that God has some unusual farming techniques. This week, with the parable of the weeds in the garden, we see once again God's method of farming is different than most. Last week's "parable of the sower and the seed" and today’s"parable of the weeds" are parables about the church, about the field that God plants in the hope of gaining a rich harvest of blessing for himself and for the world he has made. The farmer's parables are parables about us as much as they are about God and what he does.  As I mentioned last week, we are the field of God, the soil where he plants.

Now, not everyone thinks Christianity and Catholicism are worth the effort. For example, just this week, Tom Petty made negative comments about religion, especially Catholicism in a couple of songs from his newest album. The two main reasons modern people give for not being Christian and for not associating with or attending church are the following:

One: People in the church are just as lousy as everyone else in the world. In general they are hypocrites and in particular there are thieves, liars, gossips, cheats, snobs, and adulterers among them.

Two: The whole idea of a good God is clearly ridiculous because if he was so good why would he allow so much evil to exist in the world.

Do these two reasons sound familiar to you? It's true. That's where many people are.They are upset, understandably so, that not everything is perfect. Like the farmer's servants in today's parable they are concerned: concerned that there are weeds among the wheat, concerned that the harvest might not happen, concerned that the effort of their master might come to nothing.

It is easy to be intimidated by what we might call the weeds in the church. It is easy to focus on the sins and imperfections that exist in the world and in the members of the Church. We can become so preoccupied with the flaws, the weeds that we forget the vast bouquet of flowers that makes up the rest of the church.

It is hard to understand why God allows the devil to cast his seed in his garden. The darnel, the weed referred to, looks like wheat. It even has a head similar to wheat. When the plant is young, it is almost impossible to distinguish it. Only when it is fully grown, without any grain, can it be separated from the wheat and burned. The word that God gives his servants is very clear: do not remove them, ”if you pull up the weeds, you might uproot the wheat along with them.” In other words, leave it to me. Wait for the time I have set.

It's hard to wait. It's hard to understand, especially when you see terrible things happening. But when it comes to dealing with other people, both in the Church and in the world, God calls us to plant not to weed; that job is his. We are to resist evil, of course, in ourselves and in others through his grace. We are called to recognize evil, to name it, and to pray to God that he will take care of it, much as the farmer told his servants in the parable that he would take of it. BUT most of all, we are told to do good instead of evil, 

   - to bless instead of curse

   - to praise instead of criticize

   - to help instead of walk away

   - to love instead of hate

   - to forgive instead of resent

   - to tell truth instead of lies.

God indeed has a plan but when we look at it with only the dim light of human wisdom, or the closed eyes of doubt and pride, there is almost no explaining why God allows the devil to cast his destructive seed in his garden.

I want to conclude by saying that I am glad of one thing in this whole mystery. In this strange system of divine agriculture, in this field that is so mixed and cluttered with weeds (and some of them are real whoppers), I am glad that God waits a while and tells his servants to hold back. Because, at some point, and maybe even for long periods of time, each of us has been a weed in God’s garden. Some of the things we have done or failed to do were more of the devil than of the Lord. Knowing this, realizing what God has done and can do for us when we let him, I’m grateful to have the weeding put off to the end!

God is aware of the evil in our world. Evil is the price of freedom. If mankind did not have the ability to choose between good and bad, he wouldn't be free. Evil choices affect all people, but it is the price of having the ability to choose good. The farmer does not refuse to plant because he might find weeds among the wheat. He plants knowing that the result might not be perfect, but there will be wheat. 

God created man with the ability to bear fruit. That also gave him the ability not to bear fruit. We call out to God in times of tragedy, in times of evil. We want to be vindicated for doing good and suffering evil. The Lord recognizes our suffering and suffers with us, but he gives others time to choose him also, to be numbered among his wheat. God sees the weeds among the wheat. They are the price of freedom. But without freedom there would be no wheat. 

Today, we pray that we might withstand the onslaught of evil against us and we also pray that we might fight to eliminate evil in our lives. With confidence, with hope, we realize the Lord who sees all will, in the wisdom of his time, remove the weed from the wheat. And we know, in the end, good will always triumph over evil.

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A)

Growing up, we were blessed to have some wonderful neighbors. An elderly couple lived next door to us, and since their children were grown and gone, they sort of adopted us as their honorary grandchildren. They would teach us much of the wisdom they had learned throughout their lives. For example, this gentleman taught me woodworking, how to work on small engines, and even tinker around with computers and other electronics. One of the most formative activities they shared with us, was gardening. Each spring, they would surrender a portion of their yard to us kids so we could have a garden. For several months, my siblings and I would climb eagerly over the fence and plant, water, weed, and eventually harvest the garden for that year. There's something spiritual about plowing the earth, planting, weeding, and cultivating a seedling into a food-bearing source of nourishment. I believe this hands-on activity was very important in teaching foundational virtues like patience, hard work, and persistence. 

Practically, through this experience, I realized that four things are necessary for a good harvest. The essential elements, whether it be a small garden in a backyard or a farm of hundreds of acres are these: Sun, water, good seed, and rich soil. Abundant sunlight is the engine for plant life. It fuels growth and development, it prevents moldy soil, and without it, nothing happens. Water is the life blood of every living thing. Water enables the plant to be rooted in the soil and draw nutrients from the earth. Most of the fruits and vegetables we eat have water as their main ingredient. It seems less important now because we can go to a nursery or hardware store and buy packs of good seed or even seedlings that are ready to plant. But in the ancient world, good, fresh seed was a treasure. You would not waste a single one and hopefully it would be the plant you wanted and not full of troublesome weeds and other worthless plants. Finally, there was the soil. The ground that was to be used for planting would need to be fertile and receptive to life. It would need to be turned and free of large trees, roots, rocks and other obstacles. Sandy or rocky soil, clay and many other types of earth would be undesirable because they would not provide the proper environment for strong, healthy plants. Without one or more of these four elements, the crops would not produce an abundant harvest.

Jesus uses this image of seed and soil, weeds and harvest to describe the kingdom of God. In this parable, Our Lord helps his listeners imagine what it takes to produce good fruit and enjoy the fruits of heaven. What are the practical implications for us, 2000 years later?

This parable reveals the generosity of God in regards to our salvation. When it comes to preparing an abundant harvest, Jesus is showing us that God is willing to cover three of the four main variables. God is the one who provides the seed for the sowing. The seed is the saving gospel, that Good news that has been handed down through the teaching of Church and the witness of the Apostles in Scripture and Sacred Tradition. Notice how freely God sows the seed! He is not cheap, he does not cut corners, he does not withhold it from some areas or peoples. He scatters it extravagantly, without counting the cost in the hopes that while many will ignore him or burn out, as a result of his efforts, many will be saved.

God also provides the necessary warmth and light that is needed for life and growth. He gives us this in his Son, S-O-N, which is even greater and more essential than the sun, S-U-N. Jesus Christ is the engine of all spiritual life and dynamo for any growth towards God. With him all things are possible and without him, nothing will happen.

Finally, God pours out the rain needed for any good harvest. This is his grace, showered on us through prayer, works of charity, and the seven sacraments, most especially Holy Communion and Confession. God knows exactly what we need and how much we need to get through good times and bad, through dry spells and times of abundance and he is always willing, waiting to release these graces into our lives so we can receive nourishment and deepen the roots of our spiritual life.

The only factor that God does not control, the only element he leaves to us is that of the soil. God relies on us to provide the place for the seed of his gospel to grow and develop. He wants us to take an active role in bearing an abundant harvest for the kingdom of God. He wants to share the joy and and satisfaction that come from watching something life-giving and wonderful spring from the smallest of beginnings. 

So where does he sow the gospel? In the human heart, mind, and soul. As we reflect on this parable today, we might ask ourselves how suitable are our hearts, our minds, and our souls. Are they fertile places, ready to receive the Good News of Christ? Are they open to the ways we need to be challenged in order that we might grow and bear fruit? Are we doing everything in our power to be that rich soil that provides a safe, nourishing place for God’s life? Or are they full of the weeds of greed, envy, laziness, lust, anger, pride and gluttony? Are we the hardened ground that causes the faith to die away in times of trial and difficulty. 

Let us resolve today to cultivate a rich place in our lives for God. No matter who we are, no matter what mistakes we have made in the past, God is here to help us and get us ready to bring forth a wonderful harvest. May we be the ones who ‘who hear the word and understand it,

the ones who bears fruit and yields a harvest of a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.’

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

            For several hundred years, before the invention of the tractor, much of the power and muscle needed for farming and logging came from oxen. These animals are capable of hauling huge loads and they can budge heavy objects humans simply can't move. The secret to the power of these magnificent animals is in the way that they are harnessed to the cargo. For oxen, they are most often tied to their load by something called a yoke. A yoke is a curved object made from hardwood that fits over the neck and head of the animals. It allows the weight of the load to be distributed evenly over the shoulders of one or two of these animals so that it can be pulled safely and quickly.

           

But yokes are not one-size-fits-all. As a matter of fact, each yoke would be made for the animal that was going to use it. The carpenter would come and take general measurements. Then he would carve a yoke that was roughly the right size and shape. After this, the ox would be brought in and the yoke set on its shoulders. From here, the carpenter would fine-tune the yoke until it fit the animal perfectly. Each yoke was unique and it was made with the individual traits and physical characteristics of the particular animal in mind. Oxen could carry numerous loads over many years so long as they were given the proper yoke to haul them.

           

In today’s gospel, Jesus looks around and sees the people of his time, who were indeed carrying many heavy burdens. The people of Israel were controlled by a foreign power, the Roman army. Most of them were poor, oppressed, and mistreated. After paying taxes to the Romans, they were expected to contribute to the support of the Temple. And at the time of Jesus, many scribes and Pharisees had made Judaism into a treacherous minefield of complicated laws and regulations. As he looked around him, Jesus saw a people heavily burdened, both physically and spiritually. And he speaks beautiful words of comfort to them when he says: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”

           

Christ sees the heavy load that people carry and he has compassion on them. He knows the weight of human suffering and he offers relief and rest. Jesus offers a break from the heavy burdens this world imposes and gives hope in the midst of our suffering. The heaviness of the world’s burden weighs us down; its yoke never fits us well. Some of us might feel its heaviness in the form of alcoholism or pornography. Others may experience the yoke of this world through hatred, lust, or greed. Still others spend a lifetime under the crushing force of guilt and lack of forgiveness. Far too many people feel drained by the unsatisfied desire to have newer and better things all of the time. They seek fulfillment in bigger houses, faster cars, nicer TV’s but they never find relief. Whatever the case, oftentimes we ourselves allow this weight to be hung around our own necks!!! Far too often we give in to sin, we do our own will instead of God’s and we become a people who are weary and heavily burdened. Worldly concern, suffering, and the effects of sin can discourage and overwhelm us; they seem like a load too heavy for us to budge.

           In today’s gospel, Jesus promises us relief; he says to us today, “Come unto me - all you who are tired - all you who are feeling drained -all you who are feeling empty - all you who are burdened by a sense of disappointment - all you who are exhausted by the struggles of life and I will give you rest. 

That is the first part of what Jesus had to say. The second part is this: "take my yoke upon you and learn from me." This seems like a contradiction; only Jesus could promise rest from our burdens in one breath then turn around and speak of taking up another burden and another yoke in the next. We might be thinking to ourselves, “What I need is a vacation – some time to rest - not more labor. However, what Jesus is telling us is that there is no such thing as a burden-free life; here on earth we always have burdens. The question is what KIND of burden we choose to carry.

Jesus has no interest in unburdening us completely from the cares and concern of everyday life; that is simply impossible. Rather, he is interested in lifting the burdens that drain us, that suck the life out of us, so he can place one on them better fitted to us. He is interested in removing the harness that the world and we forge for ourselves so that he can place around our necks his own yoke, which ironically, brings us new life, new energy, and new joy.

            This is why Jesus offers us his yoke, which he promises will be easy and the burden light. His yoke fits us perfectly; his yoke has been specifically carved for each one of us and it enables us to carry the loads of life that we thought were impossible to move. Christ promises us rest from the constant worrying and struggle that this world imposes through consumerism, materialism, and hedonism. If we seek his forgiveness in the sacrament of reconciliation, if we are willing to come and place our trust in him, our burdens of mind and spirit are healed and we are given rest from our anger, guilt, and shame. 

So what are we waiting for??? If you feel weary and burdened with the concerns of this world, if you feel heavy in mind and in spirit, if the challenges of life seem more than you can bear, then run to Christ who promises to make them lighter. Allow him to remove that worldly yoke from around your neck and replace it with his own. He assures us that it is light and easy, and we know that it is fashioned out of love and compassion. Take comfort and consolation in the words of Our Lord today:

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”