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     As we will hear in Sunday's reading from the Gospel of Matthew ( Chapter 13:1-23 ) Jesus teaches a crowd by using the Parable of the Sower. As we listen to it, we often get caught up in where the seeds landed, how they were destroyed or how they took root in good soil. There are important lessons we can learn from reflecting on this. But let's step away from the details for a minute . . . What is also notable is that Jesus was speaking to the people in ways that they could understand. He had other parables as well, but to this one in particular they might have connected, because of their familiarity with farming.  How would Jesus speak to us today in ways that we would understand?  Could he reach us by talking about money and material things? Would we understand him best if he spoke to us in terms of our striving for position or power?  Would he speak to us about being anxious or depressed, isolated or despairing? Maybe he could reach us by tal...

A tip of the hat to Father Mark Botzet for letting me post his homily from July 5, 2026. I took the liberty of changing some punctuation so that it matches the style of this blog, then adding headings and paragraph breaks. Enough preface. Here's Fr. Botzet's homily. Freedom and Focus 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Fr. Mark Botzet This Weekend the United States of America celebrates 250 years as a Nation. With the signing of the declaration of independence, our founding fathers established this great country with a focus on God. Let us not forget that. A country whose people would experience great freedom. That freedom came at a great price.... More at A Catholic Citizen in America . (Freedom comes with a price: accepting and following the laws God gave us. The good news is that this is a light yoke.)

The Sower, June 1888, Arles Vincent van Gogh [ Web Gallery of Art ] A sower went out to sow . . . Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, Scotland, India) Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)    Gospel Matthew 13:1-23 (English Standard Version) At that time: Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked...

    I read a book my mother-in-law recommended titled "Eternal." I just finished it and learned a lot, as this is a historical fiction novel focused on Mussolini's reign over Rome and his laws against the Jewish people living there. It also described how many people were duped by the fascist leader. In case you don't know, Mussolini ruled from 1922 to 1943 and he created anti-Semitic race laws that wreaked havoc on the Jewish community, terrorizing their lives and attempting to destroy their existence. In the book, one of the fictional characters who was going through a hard time making a decision about a relationship, received this advice from a friend:  "Take your life in your hands, like dough. Form it the way you want it to be."  At first, it seems like pretty good advice, but compare it to Isaiah 64:7: "Yet, L ORD , you are our father; we are the clay and you our potter: we are all the work of your hand." How do we reconcile these t...

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    As I was watching the priest prepare the vessels at the altar by distributing the bread and pouring the wine in the vessels before the consecration, I had a thought. I asked God to allow me to be prepared in a similar way . . . The vessels were sitting their empty, ready to receive the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus. All they could do at that moment was wait to be filled. The ciborium (which receives the consecrated hosts) and the cups (which hold the Precious Blood) make no contribution in and of themselves. We, too, are like vessels to be filled, but we are actually transformed when we receive Jesus. And, we, too, do not make the transformation happen. It is all dependent upon the Holy Spirit. But there are two more points to consider: First, unlike the precious metal or wood vessels waiting to be filled, we should come to the altar ready. In anticipation of receiving Jesus, our hearts and minds should be open, ready to receive him, by prayer, fast...