Hope all’s well.
Looking forward to this evening’s Mass for family and friends from RCIA, when our parish will welcome Yvonne McCafferty and Jen Wright into our faith by celebrating their initiation as full members of the Catholic Church. Please keep them in your prayers.
We can’t just take it for granted that we automatically always really hear what someone is saying.
To really hear, to really listen demands effort. To really give our full attention to what someone is saying requires effort.
There are folk who go on courses to acquire the necessary skills to be able to listen properly.
The parable of the sower, which is the gospel for today’s Mass, highlights the struggle involved in hearing the word of God. There are obstacles to be overcome. Sometimes we don’t always let the word of God take root. Sometimes we don’t take time to understand God’s word. Sometimes we can be too much caught up with other things and God gets sidelined - that can end up choking his word.
Good soil is what we’re to be - and that doesn’t happen automatically. Requires effort. If God’s word is to be truly heard and understood, we need to be good soil.
If we make the effort, obstacles can be overcome and our lives can be good soil, can be fruitful.
To read a little piece of scripture each day is good to do. Or to look at one of Sunday’s readings in advance, or reread it after Sunday is good practice.
Probably one of the best daily gospel reflections websites out is Word on Fire. Worth signing up for and it’s free.
Remember, weekday Masses are Monday to Friday. Only Mass on Saturdays is the vigil.
I look forward to seeing you, if you’re coming along to Mass this weekend.
Still no requirement though at this stage to attend, and remember, if you want, you can catch Mass live streamed Sunday 10am.
Hope you have a good day.
Fr Mackle