Monthly Archives: July 2023

Homily-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

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The Galilee

In today’s Gospel reading, we see Jesus taking a moment to teach his disciples about the Kingdom of Heaven. Like he did when he was preaching to the crowds earlier, he was speaking to them in parables. A parable was usually a short fictional story that illustrates a moral or spiritual truth.


When Jesus was alone with his disciples, He was teaching them something more deeper, then what he told the crowds. He describes the experiences of two wealthy men, and a fisherman. I mean He and his disciples were at the Galilee, how could He not throw in a fisherman into the parables. We hear of two men, one who stumbles on a field that hold a treasure buried beneath its surface. The other man, an expert in gems and pearls it appears, comes across a truly beautiful pearl, and he knows it’s true worth. Both men goes out to gather the funds they need to purchase what will give them possession of the treasure and the pearl. And they are paying a lot. But both will realize a greater profit from their actions, undoubtedly more than what they shelled out to get what they wanted. Now the fisherman, Jesus tells the parable of how this man goes out to fish, trusting in his skills and expertise to bring in a huge catch. When he brings his catch, he sorts through it, keeping the better fish, discarding the “junk” fish. Now he could have sold the inferior fish at a much lesser price, but he trusted his instincts, knowing what will sell. And I am sure he would have come out with good payout for his catch.


Now we who live in the land of Yankee business sense, would think we instant what these parables are teaching, but I think we would find that we are mistaken. What Jesus is really teaching, what He is asking of His followers, are what are you, what are we willing to pay, to give of ourselves, to enter the kingdom of Heaven? And I am not just talking about entering Heaven itself; but what are we willing to do bring about the Kingdom here and now. What are we willing to give up, what changes in ourselves are we able to make, what price are willing to pay, to help bring about the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. And we begin with ourselves, the daily small changes, the conversions we can strive to make within ourselves. And then going out and helping each other bring about the conversions needed to the Gospel life.


This was the work that Jesus invited His disciples to take up. This is the work that He invites us to take, no matter if it small efforts or large. As individuals and as a community of believers, we answer the call to bring out from our “storerooms both the new and old” ways of living together the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Feast Day of Saint Bonaventure, Franciscan

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The man who would become to be known in Franciscan history as Bonaventure, was born in central Italy, in the town of Bagnoregio. There is some disagreement over the year of his birth, though many experts and scholars have agreed on the year 1217. The son of a physician and housewife, he was baptized with the name “John.” He grew into manhood, and desired to become a scholar. In 1234, at seventeen, he entered the University of Paris. Now a new religious order of men were making news in Europe, the Franciscans. Founded by Saint Francis of Assisi, the “Poor Man of Assisi,” his followers were making a name for themselves, for their poverty, their sanctity, and their evangelical zeal. Their preaching and lifestyle drew many young men to come and join them. Among them was John, who received the name Bonaventure when he was admitted into the Order.

Upon his entry into the Order, Bonaventure took up the study of theology. In either 1253 or 1254, he became a master of theology, and head of the Franciscan school in Paris, until he was elected as the Minister General of Franciscan Order in 1257. His time in that office was spent trying to keep the Order from splintering into different factions. He strove to maintain a moderate approach to poverty, while at the same time, taking full advantage of the learning, the scholarship of his times. Always, he strove to remain faithful to the teachings and example of Saint Francis.

In 1273, Pope Gregory X named Bonaventure a cardinal bishop, and drew on his assistance in preparing for the Second Council of Lyons. It was during this Council that Bonaventure became ill and died on July 15th, 1274.

Bonaventure would be canonized on April 14th, 1482; and on March 14th, 1588, he was declared a Doctor of the Universal Church. He was given the title: “Seraphic Doctor.”

“Here Begins the Prologue To The Life Of Blessed Francis

In these last days the grace of God our Savior has appeared in his servant Francis to all who truly humble and lovers of holy poverty.

In him they can venerate God’s superabundant mercy and be taught by his example to utterly reject ungodliness and worldly passions, to live in conformity with Christ and to thirst after blessed hope with unflagging desire.

He was poor and lowly, but the Most High God looked upon him with such condescension and kindness that he not only lifted him up in his need from the dust of a worldly life, but made him a practitioner, a leader and a herald of Gospel perfection and set him up as a light for believers so that by bearing witness to the light he might prepare for the Lord a way of light and peace into the hearts of his faithful.”

From the Prologue of the Life of Saint Francis (Legenda Maior) by Saint Bonaventure

Independence Day; “Happy Fourth of July!!!”

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Prayer for the Nation, written in 1791 by Archbishop John Carroll of Baltimore, Maryland, for the inauguration of President George Washington.

We pray, O almighty and eternal God, who through Jesus Christ has revealed thy glory to all nations, to preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church, being spread through the whole world, may continue with unchanging faith in the confession of your name.

We pray Thee, who alone are good and holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal and sanctity of life, our chief bishop, the pope, the vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the government of his Church; our own bishop, all other bishops, prelates and pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed to exercise among us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct your people into the ways of salvation.

We pray O God of might, wisdom and justice, through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgement decreed, assist with your Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude the president of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness and be eminently useful to your people over whom he presides; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality.

Let the light of your divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rules and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty.

We pray for his excellency, the governor of this state, for the members of the assembly, for all judges, magistrates, and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare, that they may be enabled, by your powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability.

We recommend likewise, to your unbounded mercy, all our brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of your most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world cannot give; and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal.

Finally, we pray to you, O Lord of mercy, to remember the souls of your servants departed, who are gone before us with the sign of faith and repose in the sleep of peace, the souls of our parents, relatives and friends; of those who, when living, were members of this congregation, and particularly of such as are lately deceased, of all bene who, by their donations or legacies to this Church, witnessed their zeal for the decency of divine worship and proved their claim to our grateful and charitable remembrance. To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, grant, we beseech you, a place of refreshment, light and everlasting peace, through the same Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior.

Amen.