Archives for July 2011

When it was evening, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. (Mt. 14:15-17) The miracle of the loaves and the fishes is the only miracle that occurs in each of the four Gospels. It points back to the Old Testament when the Israelites were fed in the desert with Manna from Heaven; and it points forward to the Eucharist when we are fed by Jesus with the Bread of Life. But we can't deny the … [Read more...]

Jesus said to his disciples: “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." (Mt. 13:44-46) A few years ago, one of my friends who is in the construction business told me a story about a man who owned some property on the northshore of Lake Pontchartrain. It was basically swamp land that he used for hunting and fishing. At that usage, the land couldn't have been worth more than $1000-2000 an acre. And then something happened. A survey found that there was a large vein of clay on the property. With all of the coastal protection projects going on, the need for local clay is enormous. Small amounts of clay are not that expensive, but clay is expensive to move in large … [Read more...]

You, O LORD, are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call upon you. Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my pleading. (Ps. 85:5-6) The Gospel for this 16th Sunday in Ordinary time is the parable from Matthew 13 about the field sown with good and bad seed. We might have heard the expression “bad seed” as referring to someone who came from a “bad family.” While it's true that one's environment can have a serious effect on our personalities, attitudes and habits, the Church teaches that we are all God's children. You might also hear the expression that someone is “beyond redemption.” This expression is contrary to Catholic doctrine. The catechism teaches that “There is not, never has been, and never will be a single human being for whom Christ did … [Read more...]

Thus says the LORD: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.  (Is 55:10-11) In the First Reading for Sunday's Mass, Isaiah recounts the words of the Lord (above), where the Word of the Lord is likened to water falling upon the earth. It's an analogy that fits well for our summer, since it rains in New Orleans almost every day! The bad news is that we can get caught in the storms, and the good news is that it keeps our plants and trees and grass nice and green. After less than an … [Read more...]

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Mt 11:28-30) “Come to me,” the Lord asks us in today's Gospel. The word used for “come” in the original Greek is “Δεῦτ唝 – pronounced “dyoo-teh.” It's a command, and it's directed to the entire group to whom Jesus is speaking. The same word is used by Jesus a number of times in the New Testament, speaking to a past event, a present event and a future event. In the past event, Jesus first used to word when He saw Simon and Andrew mending their nets: “Come, after me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Mk 1:17). In the future event, Jesus gives us … [Read more...]