A Catholic priest since 1997, Fr. Andrew Ricci is currently the rector of the Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior, WI. His website "Three Great Things" can be found at studyprayserve.com and his podcasts can be found under "Catholic Inspiration" in the iTunes store.
The Gospel parables remind us that growth happens over time, often when we least expect. Let us learn the lessons of the pandemic and call upon God’s grace that we may continue to grow to our full stature as sons and daughters of the Most High.
The feast today offers us an insight into what happens to our hearts when we embrace God’s love. The intensity of Mary’s love in light of her “Yes!” to God indicates that the love of Christ will transform us in ways beyond our wildest imagination.
This feast draws us into the awesome mystery of God’s unconditional love for us…inspiring us to embrace this love into our hearts and let it flow through our lives.
One of the toughest commandments of Christ is the directive to forgive and reconcile. Yet this commandment is essential as we follow the Lord with full and open hearts.
Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, and as we carry out his commands we continue his saving mission in the context of our daily circumstances.
For the next three weeks we will be reading from the Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5-7 of Matthew’s Gospel. Today we begin with the Beatitudes, and it begs a question: how do we recognize God’s blessings in our lives?
Let’s take a look at some of the major themes we find in the readings for the 11th Sunday of Ordinary Time.
1st Reading – Ezekiel 17:22-24
The prophet offers the cedar as a sign of God’s restoration for the people of Israel, which will be ultimately fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.
God’s power reigns supreme over all creation.
Psalm – 92:2-3,13-14,15-16
“Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.”
God is praised for mighty deeds that bring blessings to those who live holy lives.
2nd Reading – 2nd Corinthians 5:6-10
We remain courageous as we follow the Lord in faith.
In both life and death we belong to the Lord, from whom we will receive recompense for the good or evil we have done.
Gospel – Mark 4:26-34
This passage offers two parables about the kingdom of God that highlight the contrast between the humble beginnings of a seed and the final glory of a mature plant.
The simple start of a small seed reminds us that God’s power touches the little and the lowly, resulting in a final creation beyond our expectation.
At every Mass the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, what we call the Real Presence. In his teaching to the disciples, the Lord defines and commands us to receive him in Holy Communion. In light of the past year with the pandemic, we have discovered just how crucial it is for us to carry out this command of Christ.
The Book of Tobit, Part V – In the final installment, we see the revelation of the angel Raphael who urges Tobit and Tobiah to give unceasing praise to God.
