Gospel for June 13 2021 – Mark 4:26-34
Gospel Reflections for June 13 2021
The smallest of seeds becomes…
We are in a time of transition now that will soon see the full opening of all our parish activities.
This Gospel is good news for you, especially if you might feel in need of more wisdom, grace or strength to face that.
All parishes have been smaller places this last year. Many of our parish events were put on hold. That is about to change soon when we receive permission from the Archbishop to open to full capacity.
Our parish will again be a wonderful place for Sunday Mass every week, along with joyful weddings, beautiful baptisms, school graduations, First Communions, Confirmations, University Series classes, and even our great parish Springfest!
When this Gospel was written, the number of Christians in the whole world numbered just a few thousand. It was very small. There were no parishes, schools, Catholic universities, or programs at all. A lot has happened since them, which is the theme of today’s Gospel.
Jesus knew that the small church in Jerusalem would be like a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds that also grows into the largest of all plants. That happened. Within a few generations, most of the Roman Empire joined the Church!
Jesus could see the future and knew that His mission of salvation would plant itself inside the souls of people everywhere and blossom in the worldwide Church that Catholicism is today, with well over one billion people, and still growing.
He adds the beautiful image of “all kinds of birds of the air find nesting in its branches” meaning that all kinds of people “flying by” or searching for meaning in their lives would recognize that this is the place where they could land and find a home. What a perfect image of a parish just as Jesus intends it to be!
The person of Jesus reaches every culture and every person no matter where they live and no matter what their circumstances. No one can reach the human person more deeply and meaningfully than the One connected to God the Father who created all of them.
The mission of every parish today is to be that place where you meet the Lord, no matter what your circumstance or situation, and find a meaningful home in His arms.
This is a hope-filled time, and the wonderful promise of this Gospel is truly Good News.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Dear Father Dave,
Yes, the seeds of faith, hope, and charity can grow and brighten us, allowing God’s wisdom to frame our souls.
Looking forward to our parishes opening!
God bless you.
Kathleen
All LA parishes will finally open this week!
Can’t wait for the full communion of the Mass. Beautiful reflection of hope to be brought into the light after a year of shadows
Yes, finally we have full opening of all our churches. Hope fulfilled!
HI Fr Dave,
Like your optimism but I get confused you write our Catholic Church is still growing.
Bishop Robert Barron paints a different picture recently in one of his YouTube videos he said for every Baptized Catholic we are loosing 6 young Catholics.
Also that 70% of Catholics do not believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist I was among those ignorant Catholics until about 40 or more years ago I am 82 now don’t recall how I learned the truth about our lord probably from a Catholic magazine.
I like the good news our churches will be open soon.
I usually attend LOPH on Norwalk or St Mary’s but once
In a while take Dial A Ride to St Brunos for prayer and a Rosary and pick up some of your writings but I gave them all away at my Retirement Home
So I need more please continue to write more and make them available at St Brunos.
Thank You Fr Dave
Hello!
Bishop Barron’s comments are mainly about the Church in the USA. The worldwide Catholic Church is growing. 70% of Catholics may not be able to articulate their belief in the Eucharist well, but most understand that something powerful and objective happens at the consecration. I am glad to let you know that all of my articles are available in hard copy at St. Bruno but also online at my website at daveheney.com, or at our parish website at stbrunochurch.org. You can find all of them on either site.
Thank you, Father.
I always love your writings. Thank you for taking the time to explain the gospels.
Thank you for your kind words! I am glad you like these reflections.
Loveeeeeeee your precious Homily!!!We are all soooooooooooooooooooooooooo blessed with our precious Faith!!! Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo happy to be Catholic and receive our miracle Jesus!! His loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee overwhelms me and inspires me to touch the world with His loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! Dick and I are so in loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee with our precious Faith, our loving God, our precious Jesus, our beautiful Blessed Mother and no one can ever take them away from us!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it!!! It has been a precious life and is!! Teaching our Fafith to others and sharing Jesus’ love!!!! Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo happy our beautiful parish will be opening up to all the precious sacraments, activities and social life!!! and yours tooooooooo!!Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee our loving Faith!!! Thank you Father Dave for giving us the precious gift of our Jesus!!Jesus loves you sooooooooooooooooooo much for being precious you and so do we!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!
Dear Fr Dave
Thank for your spiritual words of wisdom and good suggestions regarding our Catholic
Church and the Church dynamic attributes which are readily available for us and we all
should be thankful for the opportunity to go to Church.
Yes, and all our churches will finally be open this week!
Fr Dave,
What a beautiful imagination you have. I also like the scripture that says “All kinds of birds of the air found nesting in its branches”. And that people “ flying by”
would recognize the parish as a home & land there.
Jesus knew that a parish would be a home to us.
I think most of us will be very happy when our parishes open back up again.
God Bless
Jane
All of our churches will be open this week and ready to catch those who are “flying by!”
I look at that mustard seed is when we talk to a person wanting them to come back to their relationship to Our Lord is that we are seed planters in other lives. Even though we might say a little that seed will grow and it is up to God to bring another there to help it grow. We need not e shy about what to say. Just give that word and count on God.
Well said!