Sunday, 15th Week in Ordinary Time July 16, 2023

Fr. Rick’s Two-Minute Homily for Sunday, 15th Week in Ordinary Time
July 16, 2023, Matthew 13:1-9
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readdings/071623.cfm

The Draft.

Jesus is constantly throwing out the seed of his good heart to everyone. It’s like he has his own draft system.

Drafts play a big part in sports. Colleges recruit high school students who excel in talent and ability. A student’s passion and work ethic are also credited in deciding to draft a Number 1 star.

They are born leaders. Pro sports draft players with the same model. Companies hire graduates who are the brightest and most outstanding achievers.

Jesus would check out SAT scores and look over resumes if He were building a worldly kingdom. Instead, He is building a Kingdom for heaven; something permanent. It doesn’t follow the latest whim, doing what feels right at the moment.

So, our Lord chose people who had rocky soil whose values were of this world. What’s in it for me? He chose Simon, He named Peter, who reacted rather than thinking things through and responding.

He chose two hotheads, brothers James and John, who wanted to blow up a town for rejecting Jesus. Jesus even chose a hated tax collector, Matthew, a known sinner, and traitor to his people.

Look how Jesus’ seed, filled with His DNA, changed these poor fellows into Apostles. We are still telling their story. Permanent.

Ponder a moment the power of the seed that Jesus sowed in your life and mine. I don’t know about you, but my soil isn’t always rich in welcoming the seeds Jesus sows. Sometimes I can be stubborn and not know it. Thank God, our staff are open enough to point out when my heart has hardened, and I am not listening and getting the whole picture.

God has called all of us to live the full life of His Son while we try to navigate around this crazy world that is so hardened against God and His Ways. But you and I don’t have to follow those ways.

God has planted his seed in us that carries His DNA. We don’t have to rely on our own human wisdom and strength. We have Jesus in the Sacraments we receive worthily, and we contemplate every day the Gospel, and do our best to put it into practice.

Perhaps we can think about this during our brief time with Jesus in adoration after Mass.

Gospel Challenge:

So why did Jesus draft you? You will find that answer in the area you need salvation. The area we are at our worst is the area where Jesus loves us the most. Jesus knows what to do with His seed that falls on our rocky ground.

Jesus sent out 12 ordinary men to begin the building of His Kingdom. It was an unlikely draft, but it worked and is still working 2000 years later.

It can work in you and me when we surrender to Jesus. He calls the poor in spirit blessed, people who know they can’t save themselves. I like Jesus’ standard of recruiting. It fits me well.

Fr. Rick Pilger, IC 
pastor 

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