Christ's Urgent Call
the kingdom of heaven is like...
Dear Saints,
First, this week's announcements:
Sunday's 11:00am Mass will be outside, in front of the church (bring your own chair or blanket, and even an umbrella for shade).
Our two 9:00am Sunday Masses are still on: a drive-in Mass (Walmart) and one in the church.
The Eucharist is exposed for Adoration after 8:00am Mass every FRIDAY morning, with Benediction on SATURDAY morning before the 8:00am Mass.
The Outside Confessional is now open on Saturdays only, 8:30-9:30am and 4:00-5:00pm.
Please be in touch with me with any questions or concerns.
Our Gospel passage this weekend concludes the third of Jesus' five main teaching blocks in the Gospel of Matthew. Parables have been the peculiar feature of Jesus' preaching in this central section. We see that again this Sunday, as Jesus proposes three images for the crowd to puzzle over.
Remember, my friends, that the parables are part and parcel of Jesus' Kingdom of God announcement. The stories themselves help Jesus' hearers to grapple with, accept, and embody God's loving rule.
What does it mean, then, for Jesus to say, "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field..." or "a merchant searching for fine pearls..." or "a net thrown into the sea..."? In each of the parables, what might we identify as the Kingdom of Heaven? Is it the merchant, the pearl, the act of selling everything else to buy it? Think about it. Talk about it. Send me a note about it.
No matter what you make of those sketches, we have to say that the pursuit of God's Kingdom is an all-in venture. Christ's call demands every ounce of energy and attention we can muster; half measures simply won't do.
So the question is put to us again today: Are we ready to trust and follow Jesus in all things - bringing God's love to life for everyone we encounter no matter the challenges - and so find our place in God's kingdom project?
With the help of Christ, YES!
I love you, my friends, and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Christ's Peace,
Father Daniel
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
Preparing for Mass?
Check out this weekend's readings:
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Bergpredigt im Schwarzwald
Rudolf Yelin d. Ä., ca. 1912