Gospel: The Parable of the Sower is easily applied to our daily lives. Please see the homily and readings below.
Altar Serving: Three girls were fast tracked to Altar Serving. All three celebrated First Communion on the 29th of May. Lotus altar served for the first time two weeks later on Sunday, June 12 and Katelynn and Alethia five weeks later on Sunday July 3rd. Each girl received about an hour of training and was helped during the Mass by experienced Altar Servers Anthony Reynolds and Brian Venua.
Below Katelynn (left) and Alethia (right) pose for a picture.
Katelynn on her first day altar serving:
Alethia on her first day Altar Serving.
Final Week: My last Sunday Mass will be July 24th. I will be actually leaving for Sacred Heart in Wasilla sometime between Tuesday the 26 of July and Friday the 27th.
Thank you: Thank you to Bernie Venua for helping take down the unleaded fuel tank on the property. The tank was becoming a safety hazard due to its concrete base becoming eroded after 30 some years.
Around the Mission: It was a slow week for flying. The fog was unpredictable and moved in and out throughout each day. I flew to King Salmon on Penair and cancelled Clarks Point. I hope to fly to Kokiganek, Clarks Point, and Ekuk before I have to fly the Cherokee to Wasilla.
Have a wonderful week and see you Sunday…Fr. Scott
Homily and Announcements:
15th Ord A DLG 2011, Environment, Isaiah 55:10-11; Romans 8:18-23; Matthew 13:1-23
When I was growing up, my mother was continually telling me to turn off the lights in the house. She reminded me not to waste food because there were children starving in other countries. Born during the depression era, my mother learned to save and conserve.
The readings today point to the environment. They talk about Rain, snow, seeds, sowers, fertile soil, and rich ground. We hear a lot about environmental issues these days.
The bottom line is that God asks us to be good stewards of the earth. That means that we must wisely use the resources that are given to us.
Genesis reminds us that all humanity is to care for the earth, not wreck it. Both the New and Old Testaments are filled with the importance of our relationships to the earth.
To explain the parable of the sower, I want to use our environment as an example.
First, facts, figures and recent debates about our planet’s environment fall on the path. We acknowledge there presents, we take them to heart, but in a couple of days we forget about them and take no action.
Second, environment concerns fall on rocky ground. In other words, we are not receptive to hearing anything that might demand a change in our lifestyle. Something that lessens our comfort is out of the question.
Third, environmental issues fall among thorns. This one probably describes me the best. I have other priorities…other issues that must be dealt with. It is not that important right now and it can wait for another generation.
Fourth, what experts say about the environment falls on fertile soil. We want to do whatever we can to see that the earth continues to bear fruit for as many generations as God intends. We do our small part to help that to happen.
Here is another take on the parable of the sower. The sower failed three times out of four. He succeeded on the fourth try.
Look at Jesus. Jesus’ crucifixion failed for three days. Finally, he was raised. Jesus failed to win over the Pharisees and tax collectors. He failed to defend himself in front of Pilate and Herod. It was only after the Resurrection and the ultimate sign of salvation that he succeeded. Once the fourth try was complete, it brought about great results
The first three steps of the parable fail, the last one succeeds. There is a 25 percent success rate.
Here are the four spiritual steps: We fail, we listen, we learn, and we grow. There are four seeds and one out of every seed grows.
What this means is that it is Ok to fail three times. It is OK to fail, as long as we TRY and do our best to de better the next time. Never give up! The Key word is TRY…keep trying.
The Lord asks us to try, not necessarily succeed. Mother Theresa said, “Jesus does not ask us to be successful, but to be faithful.
The message today is clear: Be good stewards of the earth. Appreciate what God has given us. Take care of our resources. Cut down on waste. If we have failed at doing our part, don’t give up. Keep trying (537 Words).
Isaiah 55:10-11
For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, Giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats. So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.
Romans 8:18-23
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
Matthew 13:1-23
On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirty-fold. Whoever has ears ought to hear." The disciples approached him and said, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" He said to them in reply, "Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because 'they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.' Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: 'You shall indeed hear but not understand you shall indeed look but never see. Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted, and I heal them.' "But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. "Hear then the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirty-fold."
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