Gospel Reflections for July 19 2020
What kind of world is this?
Once again, our churches are closed, but we will still have our same mass schedule, just outside in the open air.
Every week it seems there is a new Covid-19 issue, political battle, and civil rights protest. How would Jesus talk about all these events?
Today’s Gospel presents our troubled world with the image of a field in which grow both life-affirming wheat and life-threatening weeds …and both growing together at the same time.
Jesus affirms our world, and even each person, is neither a place of only bad news or only good news. Our world is a mixed place with stories of extraordinary goodness, personal heroism, and remarkable saintliness right alongside stories of extraordinary selfishness, evil motives, and bad behavior. No reason to be shocked at this.
Honesty simply demands that we open our eyes and see what is actually going on, and that includes both good and bad things happening at the same time.
But then Jesus adds an even more important message. He affirms what your response should be while living in this crazy mixed-up world …and it is a very helpful lesson!
Whenever you encounter bad people, you must never let their lack of faith, hope, and love change your faith, hope, and love! Nourish and safeguard the faith you have no matter what other people may do.
If you are an example of wheat then continue to live that way, even if weed people are all around you. After all, if you have faith and love in your own heart …why would you let anyone who does not have faith and love change you? You should be affecting them, not the other way around!
That can happen if you ask for the grace from Our Lord that He offers at every mass. Then you will never become discouraged but always feel encouraged instead. You will never feel alone but rejoice also in the communion of saints in heaven who constantly intercede for you and are on your side.
You live in a world where an evil virus has also been planted, and here at St. Bruno Parish we will creatively adapt and have our masses outside where that virus cannot spread easily. We never accept evil but always find creative ways to overcome it.
You live in a very big world that was designed by God in His wisdom to have both wheat and weeds living alongside each other. Make sure that everyone knows just which one you are!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
What a wonderful, concise statement. We miss your presence at St. Paschal, but we watch the St. Bruno Mass every Sunday morning.
God bless you and Father Abebe.
I am glad you enjoy our video masses. They will continue until we can be back in church again at full strength!
Fr. Dave is right again. We can be much better and help others to be better also by going to mass more often and receiving the Eucharist. Nothing else can help us and the world more!
Thank you!
The wheat and the weeds story shows God’s plan for us. We each have good and bad
in us, and we have the freedom to choose as we navigate through life. With Him at the
helm we have no fear, even though we ask ourselves, Why doesn’t He do something
about the chaos around us? He sees it all and cares about us.
We have to be patient and in His good time He will give us His mercy and help.
Beautifully said!
Your words help me so much to cope in this crazy world. Thank you.
You are very welcome!
Dear Father Dave,
You’re so correct when you speak to our faith and its visible truth within us. Such a beautiful gift!
God bless.
Kathleen A.
Yes, we must do everything we can every day to nourish our faith.
Father Dave, your words are the best therapy
for what is going on now a days.
Along with our prayers and faith in God,
faith in Jesus our Lord and the Holy Spirit.
Things will get better.
Yes, I believe as well that things will get better soon.
Dear Father Dave, I found you as I was looking for an on line Mass and now I wish I lived in Covina so I could attend St. Bruno. I enjoy your homilies so much and I read your on line reflections. I live in San Bernardino and regularly attend the Cathedral. Because of my age and other conditions, it has been better for me to continue on line for a little longer, so I appreciate you. God bless you! Thank you so much for everything, Father!
I very much appreciate your kind words. Thank you!