Reading from the Acts of the Apostles shows the power of the name of Jesus, Paul and Barnabas proclaiming God’s inviting and saving love in Jesus Christ. They testify how the Holy Spirit moved people’s hearts to listen to the word of God, the voice of Jesus the good shepherd, and with joy they commit themselves to faith in Christ. Listening to the voice of the good shepherd and following him is about shaping lives with the grace and light of the gospel. It is to know we are in communion with Christ and that inspires us to communicate our faith in Christ in the way we live.
Russian novelist Dostoevsky writes about the beauty of our faith and the marvel of Christ and his voice that guides and shapes us: “How much terrible suffering has this thirst for faith cost me, a faith that is all the stronger in my soul the more I dream up arguments against it. And yet, God sometimes sends me moments in which I am completely serene. In these moments, I love and feel loved by others. Faith is to believe that there is nothing more beautiful, more profound, more pleasant, more reasonable, more perfect than Christ. Christ is absolute peace, a presence that touches the head and the heart and draws one toward a saving love”.
There are sheep [people] living in a captivity of material and spiritual hunger, living in extreme poverty and unbearable weather conditions, sheep fearful and perishing. Poet Malcolm Guite: ‘many sheep are hopeless; the weak preyed on by the strong; many bruised and broken on the way. The lambs we left alone to face all we have feared and are caught by the wolf. Good shepherd, we need you; it seems, only one sheep finds the fold and ninety-nine are lost out in the darkness. And no one knows how long this night will last. Restore us, call us back to you by name, and by your life laid down, redeem our shame’. Welcome Christ’s transforming voice to our hearts that we may live in freedom, in justice and love!
In the world today, many voices try to capture our attention; it is easy to listen to voices that offer power, wealth and comfort of modern technologies. Many have everything that daily life can offer but is there something missing that only the good shepherd can give; the voice of Jesus the good shepherd challenges us; it is voice of liberation, asking us to listen, wake up and not live a life consumed by bitterness, grudges or anger or voices that destroy your peace; allow the voice of Christ to free us!
Different ways we proclaim Christ and let the voice of the good shepherd echo in the world: there is a silent witness, that our choices reflect our love for Christ; then there is our liturgical proclamation, celebration of our faith in fellowship, in Mass and other sacraments, in small faith sharing groups, through media and in works of charity. Through us, Jesus the good shepherd wants to reach out to improve people’s lives, give everyone a taste of salvation he offers. Through the catholic presence of the church in the world, the good shepherd is stirring hearts to come to him-to pastures of grace, healing, renewal of life, a grace to forgive and let go and embrace compassion, not hate! Let the merciful voice of the good shepherd resound in us for our wellbeing and that of the world around us!
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Vatican, Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Jubilee 2025: Jesus Christ our Hope
The life of Jesus: The parables 6. The sower
I am pleased to welcome you in this, my first general Audience. Today I will resume the cycle of Jubilee catechesis, on the theme “Jesus Christ Our Hope”, initiated by Pope Francis.
Let us continue today to meditate on the parables of Jesus, which help us to regain hope, because they show us how God works in history. Today I would like to dwell on a parable which is somewhat peculiar, because it is a sort of introduction to all the parables. I refer to that of the sower (cf. Mt 13:1-17). In a certain sense, in this account we can recognize Jesus’ way of communicating, which has a great deal to teach us for proclaiming the Gospel today.
Every parable tells a story that is taken from everyday life, yet wants to tell us something more, to refer us to a deeper meaning. The parable raises questions in us; it invites us not to stop at appearances. Before the story that is told or the image that is presented to me, I can ask myself: where am I in this story? What does this image say to my life? In fact, the term “parable” comes from the Greek verb paraballein, which means to throw in front of. The parable throws before me a word that provokes me and prompts me to question myself.
At the beginning, we see Jesus who leaves the house and gathers a great crowd around him (cf. Mt 13:1). His word fascinates and intrigues. Among the people there are obviously many different situations. The word of Jesus is for everyone, but it works in each person in a different way. This context allows us to understand better the meaning of the parable.
A rather unusual sower goes out to sow, but does not care where the seed falls. He throws the seeds even where it is unlikely they will bear fruit: on the path, on the rocks, among the thorns. This attitude surprises the listener and induces him to ask: how come?
We are used to calculating things – and at times it is necessary – but this does not apply in love! The way in which this “wasteful” sower throws the seed is an image of the way God loves us. Indeed, it is true that the destiny of the seed depends also on the way in which the earth welcomes it and the situation in which it finds itself, but first and foremost in this parable Jesus tells us that God throws the seed of his Word on all kinds of soil, that is, in any situation of ours: at times we are more superficial and distracted, at times we let ourselves get carried away by enthusiasm, sometimes we are burdened by life’s worries, but there are also times when we are willing and welcoming. God is confident and hopes that sooner or later the seed will blossom. This is how he loves us: he does not wait for us to become the best soil, but he always generously gives us his word. Perhaps by seeing that he trusts us, the desire to be better soil will be kindled in us. This is hope, founded on the rock of God’s generosity and mercy.
In telling the way in which the seed bears fruit, Jesus is also talking about his life. Jesus is the Word, he is the Seed. And the seed, to bear fruit, must die. Thus, this parable tells us that God is ready to “waste away” for us and that Jesus is willing to die in order to transform our life.
I have in mind that beautiful painting by Van Gogh, The sower at sunset. That image of the sower in the blazing sun also speaks to me of the farmer’s toil. And it strikes me that, behind the sower, Van Gogh depicted the grain already ripe. It seems to me an image of hope: one way or another, the seed has borne fruit. We are not sure how, but it has. At the centre of the scene, however, is not the sower, who stands to the side; instead, the whole painting is dominated by the image of the sun, perhaps to remind us that it is God who moves history, even if he sometimes seems absent or distant. It is the sun that warms the clods of earth and makes the seed ripen.
Dear brothers and sisters, in what situation of life today is the Word of God reaching us? Let us ask the Lord for the grace always to welcome this seed that is his Word. And if we realize we are not a fruitful soil, let us not be discouraged, but let us ask him to work on us more to make us become a better terrain.
Father Jose has a new book available - The Psalms: Songs of the Anawim.
Click on the titles of the books for more information about their content and how to order.
If books are purchased at the Parish Office, all proceeds go to our Haiti Twinning Project!
Visit the Grotto of
Our Lady of Lourdes
Pray the Rosary
Contemplate
Spend some quiet time
St. Raphael Parish
Glasgow, MT
CLICK HERE for more information and photos of our Haiti Twinning Project!
Please remember to donate to our
Haiti Twinning Project
- and thank you for your generosity!
We are grateful to the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Montana for the $3,000 dollars we received through a grant from the Greatest Needs Endowment or Parish Assistance Endowment. The total amount for the ventilation and air exchange project in the parish center was $6,338. Without the help of the generous donations to these two Endowments, it would have taken us much longer to get this project finished. With the system in place, we will get rid of the musty smell and make the parish center much more pleasant for everyone that uses our facility. Thank you Catholic Foundation of Eastern Montana for your generosity!
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Monday-Thursday
10:00am-4:00pm
and by appointment.
Please call 228-9800 (office) or
228-2962 (rectory).
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Go to the Google Play Store for Android devices, or the App Store for Apple devices, and search for “St Raphael Parish Application”. The icon is the same as the previous parish app. (Remember to delete the old app)