A Message From Our Chaplain, Fr. John Sandersfeld

 

Watching the news, a constant report of increased violence and chaos, a person can feel powerless or infected by that same violence, anger revengefulness, and greed. My way or the highway. My way, it the only way mentality.

 

Matthew’s gospel collects powerful parables that can restore our hope and send us out as the Lord’s disciples; to be leaven, a seed of Hope.

 

• “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 

• But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirty fold. 

• “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hi in three measured of flour, till it was leavened.”

As I have preached on these passages, re-reading them throughout the week, my hope in humanity is grounded in the belief that God is with us and had called us to be disciples at this time, this place, for a reason.

 

We can plant the seeds that grow among the weeds and will yield a crop of sixty or a hundred fold. We can be the leaven that enriches our families, workplace environment, and community. Others depend on us to listen for God and respond to be the fertile ground for God’s Word. We are His compassion and care and show God’s mercy. The Word of God-His Gift of presence in us becomes for others as well as for ourselves that which sustains us.

 

We can only respond to God’s call and God’s spirit in community. Thank you for providing that community as Catholic professionals and I am grateful for your presence each month. It restores my hope in Christ and plants in the ground for my hope.

 

Yours in Christ,

Monsignor John Sandersfeld