R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower.
All who come to him will live forever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus said to the crowds:
“This is how it is with the kingdom of God;
it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land
and would sleep and rise night and day
and through it all the seed would sprout and grow,
he knows not how.
Of its own accord the land yields fruit,
first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once,
for the harvest has come.”

He said,
“To what shall we compare the kingdom of God,
or what parable can we use for it?
It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground,
is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.
But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants
and puts forth large branches,
so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”
With many such parables
he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.
Without parables he did not speak to them,
but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

Once again Jesus teaches about the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven using parables; earthly stories with a heavenly meaning. As we listen intently to His teaching, each parable must be internalized leading us toward a deeper relationship with Christ. Parables about the Kingdom of God must be contemplated just as our Blessed Mother pondered everything that happened in her life.

Our earthly experience to today’s parables begin with seeds. The Kingdom of God is not static. Just like a seed it is alive and growing from within. We know not how yet the emphasis of today’s Gospel passage is on the power of the seed to grow of itself. “The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower” (See Lk 8:11). This power comes from the Holy Spirit; the source of all life and goodness. It is the same Spirit that gives life to the Church.

One can make a comparison of a tree’s growth and maturity to the three Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love. Faith is the like the root of the tree; it is steadfast, stable, and committed to the Truth. Hope is like its branches; ever expanding, growing, and progressing. And finally, Love is the fruit; the purpose of the tree’s existence. When asked “Which commandment in the law is the greatest? Jesus answered, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind…[and] you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (see Mk 22:36-39). Our faith is rooted in love.

And to fulfill these commandments we must nurture faith, hope, and love in our families. Just as a seed can grow and blossom into a majestic tree, faith, hope, and love can grow to withstand the storms and difficulties of life.

These virtues are best explained by a true story.

An 8.2 earthquake nearly flattened the country of Armenia killing over thirty thousand people in less than four minutes. In the midst of nearly total devastation and chaos, a father rushed to the school where his son was enrolled. The building was reduced to a pile of rubble.

All he could remember was the promise he had made to his son: “No matter what, I’ll always be there for you”. Tears filled his eyes as he looked at the pile of debris that was once the school. Remembering his son’s classroom was in the back right corner of the building, he rushed there and started digging with his bare hands.

Other forlorn parents tried to pull him off saying, “It’s too late! They’re gone. Come on, face reality. There’s nothing you can do!” To each parent he responded, “Are you going to help me now”?

But no one helped.

Courageously, he proceeded alone because he needed to know whether his son was alive or dead. He dug for eight hours…twelve hours…twenty-four hours…thirty-six hours. Then, in the thirty-eighth hour, he pulled back a boulder and heard his son’s voice. He screamed his son’s name to which he heard back, “Dad!? It’s me! I told the other kids not to worry that if you were alive you would come to save me and when you save me they would be saved too”.

The boy added, “There are fourteen of us left out of thirty-three. When the building collapsed the walls made a wedge like a triangle and it saved us”. “Give me your hand”, said the father, “and I’ll pull you out” to which the boy replied, “No, Dad! Pull the other kids out first. I know you’ll get me. No matter what, I know you’ll be there for me.”

As we pray for our fathers we thank God for the blessings He has bestowed on them and for the many times they were there for us.

God planted the seeds of faith, hope, and love in our heart at Baptism. Our job is to continually nurture them to flourish like a majestic cedar; standing tall and strong with our family through life’s trials. And when hardships become too much to bear Jesus says to each of us, “No matter what, I’ll always be there for you. Come and dwell under my branches in safety and shade”. He is always there to save us; for all who come to Him will live forever.

Deacon Mark Izzo, Permanent Deacon, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica – Saint Anthony Parish

Thus says the Lord GOD:
I, too, will take from the crest of the cedar,
from its topmost branches tear off a tender shoot,
and plant it on a high and lofty mountain;
on the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it.
It shall put forth branches and bear fruit,
and become a majestic cedar.
Birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it,
every winged thing in the shade of its boughs.
And all the trees of the field shall know
that I, the LORD,
bring low the high tree,
lift high the lowly tree,
wither up the green tree,
and make the withered tree bloom.
As I, the LORD, have spoken, so will I do.

R. (cf. 2a) Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
to sing praise to your name, Most High,
To proclaim your kindness at dawn
and your faithfulness throughout the night.
R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
The just one shall flourish like the palm tree,
like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow.
They that are planted in the house of the LORD
shall flourish in the courts of our God.
R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
They shall bear fruit even in old age;
vigorous and sturdy shall they be,
Declaring how just is the LORD,
my rock, in whom there is no wrong.
R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

Brothers and sisters:
We are always courageous,
although we know that while we are at home in the body
we are away from the Lord,
for we walk by faith, not by sight.
Yet we are courageous,
and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord.
Therefore, we aspire to please him,
whether we are at home or away.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,
so that each may receive recompense,
according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.