I appreciate your invite to go to mass even if it’s been awhile. I did just that yesterday after a hiatus of several months. For one thing I am divorced and remarried. I feel like I need forgiveness for my decisions. I don’t like feeling like a sinner or an outcast. I pray to feel God’s love.
Full stop message today! How many times I’ve read/heard The Parable of the Sower and immediately assigned myself - and others - to a particular soil. I had it in my brain that once in the rocky soil or hard soil it was “game over”. Today’s message made me look at the sowing and the soil in a different light. We are not hopelessly stuck in one soil type. Thank you Father Rich!
"God, what can grow here," in the spaces of my heart that look like my not being in control of my own safety, in places I am at the Mercy of the decisions of others, through no fault of my own as I am angry about not giving consent to being a Survivor of horrible violence due to the actions of others I called stranger, family, friend, and mentor? I understand my mission is to stand up and speak for those who can't speak for themselves and for those who can no longer speak for themselves, but I ask for mercy to soften the darkness so I can learn how to live and love others like I used to, like I did when the emergency tones would drop and enter the places no one else would, to save those who asked for my help and you, God, enabled me to share your Healing with my own Hands before it was all removed from me without my Consent or Permission. Lord. Hear my Prayer. 🙏🏻 Amen
The best teaching of today's homily, even from Mass.
This really makes today's teaching so much more personal and meaningful and begs me to ask more questions of myself. But also find comfort in the word of God and His love and mercy for us.
I too wish that that sentence " let go and let God" should go away. It always seemed so insincere to me.
This was awesome, Father Rich - probably one of the top 3 best things you've written. I love your homilies and always look forward to them. I carry something (or three) away from each one. You are loved and appreciated by all of us!
It is now Tuesday, and I’m just now reading this in a quiet moment since I love to savor every word of your posts. You begin by encouraging and inviting us to go to church in our community. (Rocky ground for me but not sure why). As with the other readers, I have never heard the parable explained in this way or in this depth. Somehow it has made my heart feel lighter and brighter knowing that I have not failed in areas of my life and God is there to help me cultivate those areas. Throughout life, I’ve had different experiences of growing plants and gardening. Your writing gives me a wonderful visual and something I can relate to. It’s funny that my mind always knew God’s vast mercy, but describing it this way now, my heart now feels it. Perhaps seeing it in my own garden, will helps me understand my neighbors garden.
I appreciate your invite to go to mass even if it’s been awhile. I did just that yesterday after a hiatus of several months. For one thing I am divorced and remarried. I feel like I need forgiveness for my decisions. I don’t like feeling like a sinner or an outcast. I pray to feel God’s love.
Full stop message today! How many times I’ve read/heard The Parable of the Sower and immediately assigned myself - and others - to a particular soil. I had it in my brain that once in the rocky soil or hard soil it was “game over”. Today’s message made me look at the sowing and the soil in a different light. We are not hopelessly stuck in one soil type. Thank you Father Rich!
"God, what can grow here," in the spaces of my heart that look like my not being in control of my own safety, in places I am at the Mercy of the decisions of others, through no fault of my own as I am angry about not giving consent to being a Survivor of horrible violence due to the actions of others I called stranger, family, friend, and mentor? I understand my mission is to stand up and speak for those who can't speak for themselves and for those who can no longer speak for themselves, but I ask for mercy to soften the darkness so I can learn how to live and love others like I used to, like I did when the emergency tones would drop and enter the places no one else would, to save those who asked for my help and you, God, enabled me to share your Healing with my own Hands before it was all removed from me without my Consent or Permission. Lord. Hear my Prayer. 🙏🏻 Amen
Amen
Thank you 🙏🏻
The best teaching of today's homily, even from Mass.
This really makes today's teaching so much more personal and meaningful and begs me to ask more questions of myself. But also find comfort in the word of God and His love and mercy for us.
I too wish that that sentence " let go and let God" should go away. It always seemed so insincere to me.
Bless you Father Vitale
This was awesome, Father Rich - probably one of the top 3 best things you've written. I love your homilies and always look forward to them. I carry something (or three) away from each one. You are loved and appreciated by all of us!
It is now Tuesday, and I’m just now reading this in a quiet moment since I love to savor every word of your posts. You begin by encouraging and inviting us to go to church in our community. (Rocky ground for me but not sure why). As with the other readers, I have never heard the parable explained in this way or in this depth. Somehow it has made my heart feel lighter and brighter knowing that I have not failed in areas of my life and God is there to help me cultivate those areas. Throughout life, I’ve had different experiences of growing plants and gardening. Your writing gives me a wonderful visual and something I can relate to. It’s funny that my mind always knew God’s vast mercy, but describing it this way now, my heart now feels it. Perhaps seeing it in my own garden, will helps me understand my neighbors garden.