Saints + Scripture: XI Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Long Road Back
Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Sunday, 17 June was the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of This Week
Mass Readings—Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Book of Ezekiel, chapter seventeen, verses twenty-two, twenty-three, & twenty-four;
Psalm Ninety-two, verses two & three, thirteen & fourteen, & fifteen & sixteen;
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter five, verses six thru ten;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter four, verses twenty-six thru thirty-four.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today’s Gospel compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed that "when it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants." It seems to be a law of the spiritual life that God wants good things to start small and grow over time.

We’re tempted to say, "You’re God. Just get on with it. Do it!" But why would God work the way he does? We might attempt a few explanations. It is a commonplace of the Bible that God rejoices in our cooperation. He wants to involve us, through freedom, intelligence, and creativity, in what he is doing. And so he plants seeds, and he wants us to cultivate them.

Consider what God said to St. Francis: "Francis, rebuild my Church." God could have rebuilt his Church without Francis, but he wanted him to get involved.

When things start small, they can fly under the radar while they gain strength and heft and seriousness. Also, those involved can be tested and tried. Suppose you want to do something great in the life of the Church and you pray and God gives you massively what you want. You might not be ready, and your project will peter out. So be patient and embrace the small invitations.

Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Video reflection by Mister Jeff Cavins: Encountering the Word.

Audio reflection by Doctor Scott Hahn, Ph.D.: Breaking the Bread.

Mass Journal: Week Twenty-five
Reflection by Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute:

Several years ago, my brother Nathan was living in japan for a year as an exchange student. During that time, I received a letter from him with a photograph he had taken of what seemed to be the courtyard of an ancient Japanese garden. In the middle of the courtyard was an almond tree in full bloom. Nathan has always been a talented photographer, but what really captured my attention was a quotation he had written on the back of the photograph. The quotation was from the writing of El Greco, the famed Greek-born Spanish painter. It read: "I said to the almond tree, 'Sister, speak to me about God,' & the almond tree blossomed."

†

Otherwise, 17 June would have been the festival of Saint Mo Ling, Bishop (614-697, of Ferns, of Wexford; also spelt Moling Luachra, Molling, Mullins), founder of the monastery around which arose the town of St. Mullin's: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Monastery.

'Twould also have been the festival of Saint Rainerius of Pisa, Hermit (circa 1115-1161, A.K.A. Raineri Scacceri): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twould also have been the festival of Saint Theresa of Portugal, Religious, O.Cist. (1178-1250), Queen of León: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twould also have been the festival of Saint Albert Chmielowski, Religious, T.O.S.F. (1845-1916, A.K.A. Adam Chmielowski), founder of the Albertine Brothers, formally known as the Brothers of the Third Order of Saint Francis, Servants of the Poor; & the Albertine Sisters, formally known as the Sisters of the Third Order of Saint Francis Serving the Poor: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link C.F.A.P.U. & Wikipedia-link C.S.A.P.U.

Papal Quote o' That Day

"To be a good father, the first requirement is to be present in the family. To be close to his wife, to share in everything, joy & pain, burdens & hopes. And to be close to the children as they grow: when they play & when they make efforts, when they are carefree & when they are distressed, when they dare & when they are afraid, when they make missteps & when they return to the right path.

A father must always be present, but being present is not the same as controlling. Fathers who seek to control end up stifling their children; they do not let them grow."
—Pope Francis (born 1936, reigning since 2013)

Little Flower Quote o' That Day

"I would like to fly as the eagle does, but I can only flutter my wings—it is beyond my feeble strength to soar."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' That Day

"O Christ, only God, O Splendour, O Power of the Father, O Maker of heaven and earth & builder of this city’s walls! Thou has placed Rome’s scepter high over all; Thou hast willed to subject the world to it, in order to unite under one law the nations which differ in manners, customs, language, genius, & sacrifice. Behold the whole human race has submitted to its empire, & all discord & dissensions disappear in its unity. Remember Thy purpose: Thou didst will to bind the immense universe together into one Christian Kingdom. O Christ, for the sake of Thy Romans, make this city Christian; for to it Thou gavest the charge of leading all the rest to sacred unity. All its members in every place are united—a very type of Thy Kingdom; the conquered universe has bowed before it. Oh! may its royal head bowed in turn! Send Thy Gabriel & bid him heal the blindness of the sons of Iulus, that they may know the true God. I see a prince who is to come—an Emperor who is a servant of God. He will not suffer Rome to remain a slave; he will close the temples & fasten them with bolts forever."
—St. Lawrence (225-258, feast day: 10 August)