Sunday, July 12, 2020

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

International Day of the Sea: A day to remember seafarers in prayer

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 34 Distribution of Goods According to Need
Mass: :10-11; Resp Ps 65; Is 55Rom 8:18-23; Mt 13:1-12

The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.

I CONSIDER THAT THE SUFFERINGS OF THIS PRESENT TIME ARE AS NOTHING COMPARED WITH THE GLORY TO BE REVEALED FOR US.
(Rom 8:18)

Today's Gospel takes me to something Mother Gail Fitzpatrick, OCSO, wrote about the daily practices of monastic life, most of which go unnoticed to those who live outside the monastery: "What we do is to live moment by moment open to the influx of God's grace and mercy. But I have to be here to receive this grace here and now. In order to grow in the love of God and others I have to stick around-in good times and hard times." And these are certainly hard times for all of us. However, the seed of the Word of God has been planted in each and every one of us, wherever we find ourselves, in a home, a community, at work or play. Jesus wants to produce fruit in us. May we have ears to hear, eyes to see, and open hearts to receive the Lord so as to "bear fruit and yield a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold" (Mt 13:23).

We pray for seafarers, especially those who are far from their loved ones and their country. In gratitude for the vital work they do; for keeping our supermarket shelves stocked and for transporting personal protective equipment (PPE). We also remember in prayer and gratitude those who minister to seafarers, for example the Apostleship of the Sea and the Hull Seafarers' Centre in the UK.

Today's photo: Here is one my favorite looks at this tree. At this time of the year, the sunlight hits it at about 6:30 p.m. The seed which fell here certainly produced fruit.

© Gertrude Feick 2020

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