R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds, saying:
“The kingdom of heaven may be likened
to a man who sowed good seed in his field.
While everyone was asleep his enemy came
and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off.
When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well.
The slaves of the householder came to him and said,
‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field?
Where have the weeds come from?’
He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’
His slaves said to him,
‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds
you might uproot the wheat along with them.
Let them grow together until harvest;
then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters,
“First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning;
but gather the wheat into my barn.”‘”

He proposed another parable to them.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed
that a person took and sowed in a field.
It is the smallest of all the seeds,
yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants.
It becomes a large bush,
and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.'”

He spoke to them another parable.
“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast
that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch was leavened.”

All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables.
He spoke to them only in parables,
to fulfill what had been said through the prophet:
I will open my mouth in parables,
I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation
of the world.

Then, dismissing the crowds, he went into the house.
His disciples approached him and said,
“Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man,
the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom.
The weeds are the children of the evil one,
and the enemy who sows them is the devil.
The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire,
so will it be at the end of the age.
The Son of Man will send his angels,
and they will collect out of his kingdom
all who cause others to sin and all evildoers.
They will throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
Then the righteous will shine like the sun
in the kingdom of their Father.
Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

Think of the copious corn fields of Ohio this time of the year or the soybean or wheat fields.  They are splendid, at harvest; this will be food for the whole world.  The image of our Lord and the well-planted seed we can relate to, as well at that of the baker with flour and yeast and how they increase in measure to create a delicious loaf of bread.

Prayer is like a good harvest – like yeast with good wheat.  I wish to take 4 minutes with you at this time to invite you to consider making a holy hour before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament in the Monstrance weekly at the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It is important that I do this.

Let me explain “the weekly Holy Hour of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament” that will yield a beautiful harvest in your life: Presently, there are more than 40 hours each week set aside for adoration. Facing the front of the Basilica, on its left there is The Little Flower Chapel, dedicated to adoration. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed in the monstrance, so that the faithful may adore the Lord during their Holy Hour. It is a most sacred and holy place, and it comfortably accommodates up to 7 persons. During the hour of adoration, a person may choose to silently pray – even without words – allowing the Lord to see you as you adore Him veiled in the sacrament. You may choose to thank Him during that hour for blessings and graces received. You may also choose to pour out, before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, all your sighs and sorrows, past and present. You may even choose to pray the Holy Rosary, or perhaps read the holy Scripture, or use one of the prayer books from our library, dedicated to making a Holy Hour before the holy Eucharist.

Often, as indicated in today’s readings, we are reaching out – even groaning before the Spirit, as Saint Paul declares in today’s second reading – because we are at least aware that there is definitely something missing in our life … Perhaps it is not enough faith, or hope, or even not enough love of God and other persons.

I point out to you that our goal is to have 25 new adorers who would come forward to make the commitment of a weekly Holy Hour. The display in the sanctuary shows where we are in need per diem. Seek the Lord, who Saint Paul also tells us, intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will.

Then, that is, we invite on the following days, the following numbers of new persons as adorers:

Monday – 3 adorers

Tuesday – 6 adorers

Wednesday – 2 adorers

Thursday – 9 adorers

Friday – 1 adorer

Saturday – NA

Sunday – 4 adorers

The available hours take place between the hours of 11am in the morning and holy hour beginning at 7pm and concluding at 8pm in the evening.

After Mass, come forward, take a note from the display, and make a call to Maria Panozzo, our coordinator, to let her know you are interested.

Jesus, you know, said, “Can you not at least spend one hour with Me?” Often, we have time in our lives for everything else but not for an extra hour of prayer each week. Thank you for listening.

This is the year of Eucharistic renewal, and we want to stress the importance of reverence for the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Two weeks ago, I reminded everyone of the importance of signing oneself with holy water upon entering the church. And remember also to genuflect before the tabernacle or bow if your knees impede you from doing so.

I received remarks about how our altar servers are very reverent before the Lord in the Eucharist – thank you, young people and adult servers! Thank you, deacons, as well, for your reverence.

I should like to mention that the altar cloth is always white because it symbolizes our Lord’s burial cloth that he tossed aside upon his resurrection. The corporal is where we place the Blessed Sacrament – His body and blood. It is a small square with a cross on it; we use one for the main chalice and paten; we use the other for the people’s chalices and ciborium. The servers and deacons carefully prepare these at every Mass.

We do all of this because it is not mere bread and wine but the body and blood of the Lord. This is our faith. This is the essence of the Catholic Church. This is the essence, as well, of that Holy Hour. Amen.

Monsignor Michael J. Cariglio, Jr., Pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica – Saint Anthony Parish

There is no god besides you who have the care of all,
that you need show you have not unjustly condemned.
For your might is the source of justice;
your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all.
For you show your might when the perfection of your power is disbelieved;
and in those who know you, you rebuke temerity.
But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency,
and with much lenience you govern us;
for power, whenever you will, attends you.
And you taught your people, by these deeds,
that those who are just must be kind;
and you gave your children good ground for hope
that you would permit repentance for their sins.

R. (5a) Lord, you are good and forgiving.
You, O LORD, are good and forgiving,
abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.
Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my pleading.
R. Lord, you are good and forgiving.
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship you, O LORD,
and glorify your name.
For you are great, and you do wondrous deeds;
you alone are God.
R. Lord, you are good and forgiving.
You, O LORD, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in kindness and fidelity.
Turn toward me, and have pity on me;
give your strength to your servant.
R. Lord, you are good and forgiving.

Brothers and sisters:
The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness;
for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.
And the one who searches hearts
knows what is the intention of the Spirit,
because he intercedes for the holy ones
according to God’s will.

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.