Grow as a Disciple: Pray, Study, Engage, Serve

In one of the best homilies I ever heard on today’s Gospel, the homilist pointed out that the Lord had seemingly “over-multiplied” the loaves and fish. The crowds had eaten to the point of satisfaction, and yet there were twelve baskets of leftovers remaining. “Why so many leftovers? Did the Lord not know how to count?” He asked jokingly, of course.

Grow as a Disciple: Pray, Study, Engage, Serve

Today we continue to hear parables about the kingdom of God and the reaction of those who find it. The merchant and the person in the field joyfully sell all they have to acquire their treasures. In a world in which we have so many responsibilities, following God may sometimes feel like an obligation.

Grow as a Disciple: Pray, Study, Engage, Serve

There have been moments in my life when I have not been able to find words for prayer, which leaves my efforts feeling unproductive and fruitless. But prayer’s worth is not measured by the words we say. Prayer is the lifting of the mind and the heart to God.

Grow as a Disciple: Pray, Study, Engage, Serve

If you’re anything like me, you probably hear today’s Gospel and immediately try to identify yourself with one type of seed Jesus talks about: the seed that fell on the path, the seed that fell on rocky ground, the seed among thorns, or the seed in good soil. But have you ever stopped to wonder why the sower is throwing seeds so haphazardly? This is worth meditating on, too.

Grow as a Disciple: Pray, Study, Engage, Serve

In today’s first reading, Israel’s king comes riding “on a colt, the foal of an ass.” This is a far cry from the horses and chariots the kings of other nations rode into battle as they sought to assert their authority and subdue their enemies. But Israel’s king is not like other kings; he banishes horses and the warrior’s bow, proclaiming peace to all the nations.

Grow as a Disciple: Pray, Study, Engage, Serve

In today’s Gospel, Christ tells the Apostles of the rewards given to those who welcome his disciples. He reminds us that God sees and values any support offered to those whom he sends to proclaim his word.

Grow as a Disciple: Pray, Study, Engage, Serve

Beginning with the original sin of Adam and Eve, humanity has lived in a way that has separated us from God’s perfect love. Despite the many ways we have tried to draw near to God, it is impossible for us to repair this relationship on our own. The ways we turn away from God, therefore, require an outpouring of mercy and forgiveness, which our loving Father is eager to offer.

Grow as a Disciple: Pray, Study, Engage, Serve

Our first reading from Exodus contains a promise: “If you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my special possession, dearer to me than all other people.” God promises to make Israel “a kingdom of priests, a holy nation,” if they keep the covenant. Reading the rest of the Old Testament, we know how this turns out: humanity never fully keeps our part of the covenant. And yet God is faithful, despite our unfaithfulness.

Grow as a Disciple: Pray, Study, Engage, Serve

I’ll never forget the first time I understood that the Eucharist does more than unite us to Jesus (a reality that is astonishing on its own). We profess in our creed that we’re part of a communion of saints; every time we receive the Lord in holy Communion, we’re drawn into a closer union with him and with all those who are members of his Body.

Grow as a Disciple: Pray, Study, Engage, Serve

In today’s first reading, we hear how Moses, obedient to God’s command, ascends Mount Sinai early in the morning. Up at the summit, the Lord appears to Moses in a cloud and shares his name with Moses: “LORD” (in Hebrew, the tetragrammaton, the unspeakably holy divine name).

Grow as a Disciple: Pray, Study, Engage, Serve

The Solemnity of Pentecost is about the gift of the Spirit in our lives. St. Paul reminds us that despite the variety of gifts we have received, we are one Body. To make sense of this, consider that on a human level, some of us are introverts, while others are extroverts. Each personality type has particular gifts and struggles. Sometimes, our differing personality types can grate on each other, causing tension.

This year, I cannot help but notice how kingdom-centric the readings for the Solemnity of the Ascension are. In our first reading, Jesus appears to his disciples for forty days after his resurrection and speaks to them about the kingdom of God. Our psalm beckons us to rejoice that God is mounting his throne – another kingdom image! Our second reading tells us that God has given Christ authority over “every principality, power, and dominion” – a clear sign that he is the one reigning over all.

Several years ago, while praying in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, I heard the words, “I just couldn’t bear to leave you.” It was one of the clearest responses to prayer that I have experienced, and it occurred at a time when I was feeling incredibly lonely. I have spent years reflecting on those words, which resurface often as I receive Christ in the Eucharist. In the Gospel today, I hear echoes of those words again as Christ explains to the Apostles the many ways in which they – and we – will not be abandoned after his ascension into heaven.

When the needs of ministry became overwhelming, the Apostles did not say they would sleep less or pray less in order to have more time to serve others. Instead, they appointed leaders from the community to help so they could continue to devote themselves to prayer and preaching. This reminds me of a story I read about Saint Teresa of Calcutta, in which the sisters of the Missionaries of Charity asked to be excused from the mandatory daily Holy Hour because the needs of the poor were so overwhelming.