Jesus said to his disciples:“Hear the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the Kingdom without understanding it, and the Evil One comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky groundis the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit.But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”
REFLECTION
The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the Kingdom without understanding it, and the Evil One comes and steals away what was sown in his heart.
The problem I have is the ease of falling into evil again after a good confession. It is as if I do not understand what is happening at Mass when I receive Jesus with small or large offenses. Truly if I understood His Word, what Mass is about, the importance of the priest at the very moment of consecration and the blessing of His presence at the altar, I would not make it so easy for the Evil One to come and steal away what was sown in my heart.
St Charbel Makhluf devoted his entire life to prayer, silence and above all the Holy Eucharist. Mass for him was not a religious obligation, a place to gather and socialize, wear our fancy outfits or meet with friends after Mass. It was a meeting place between heaven and earth, where Christ through the hands of the priest became present to us.
Am I too familiar with Mass and therefore have lost the awe of the miracle before me? Every Mass is Calvary made present : the one eternal sacrifice of Christ offered sacramentally for us. Oh, how cruel of me to make a list of my chores during Mass, noticing a child misbehaving, looking at my phone or tending to my prayer book, making my prayers more important than what is happening at the altar.
PAPA prays daily for priests. They are human and make mistakes, we pray and help in their sanctification as they have been given to us for the sanctification of our souls. Please join us daily as we pray for priests. Please join us in our 2026 conference. this August 7,8,9, 2026
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