Readings for the Fifteenth Sunday in ordinary Time:

Is 55:10-11; Rom 8:18-23; Mt 13:1-23 or 13:1-9

My Uncle Sam Glorioso was a great gardener. In his back yard he grew eggplant, artichokes, many types of squash, and the biggest and best tomatoes I have ever seen and tasted in my life. I asked him once how he did it since I had so much sun and good soil in my back yard and my tomatoes barely grew. I learned from him how much work is really involved in creating a good garden. You cannot just plant seeds in the grown and expect them to grow in abundance. You first have to dig up and fertilize the soil, select the best seeds from the best fruit and water, and care for the plants every day.

This is a lesson I could have learned from many of our Pedrans. If you look into the yards of many who live in our community, at this time of year, you will see them filled with gardens laden with a great yield of a cornucopia of different vegetables. Each one of these backyard farmers will tell you that a good garden takes a great deal of love and care to produce good fruit.

Today's Gospel has a farmer sowing seed in a way that would not be acceptable to any of our backyard farmers. During the time of our Lord, the seed would be sowed, scattered on the field, and later plowed. Much of the seed was lost. The emphasis of the parable is on the sower sowing the seed and the message is that unless the seed is sowed, there will never be a harvest. Still we see the results. Some fall on the path and are eaten by the birds, some fall on rocky ground and die for lack of roots, some fall among thorns and are choked, and a portion fall on rich soil and produce abundantly.

This parable teaches us first that if we do not sow any seed, no fruit will grow. No risk, no gain. Unless we try we cannot succeed. If it is our desire to help in the work of our Lord in bringing a harvest of souls, we will never achieve anything unless we first plant some seeds. I know that polite society never talks about politics or religion, but if we never talk about our faith and the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, how are we going to plant the seeds into the hearts of those around us? If we are afraid or ashamed to witness what we believe, the seeds will not even fall on the path or rocky ground; they will remain in the pouch. Second, we must plant well. This is done by first preparing the soil. If we do not dig up, plow, and fertilize the soil, the fruit will not grow to our expectations. A parent does this by modeling the faith themselves. Praying every day, going to Church faithfully, living their faith in everything they do. A child growing up in a faith filled house will more likely live a life of faith. In our workplaces and neighborhoods we prepare the soil by treating each other with love and respect; forgiving before judging, saying kind words to others, and by giving a kind ear to those in need. Much love is needed to nurture the garden of faith at every stage of growth if we desire to reap an abundant crop. Teachers can arrive at class on the first day and impress their students with a great syllabus, but if they do not teach well, all the hope for a productive year will go to naught. If we are going to grow faith in our families and community we need to love our garden; water, fertilize, prune and care for the garden at every step of the way. As the parable points out, the world provides many challenges to he growth of faith. There is much in the world that is harsh or hat will choke the life of what we plant. Not every good family ill produce saints for children. But if we do not plant and nurture the seeds, who will?

• As we approach our Parish Fiesta I cannot emphasis the gratitude that we all owe to the work of Neal Di Bernardo and his committee. Again this year he has been working tirelessly for our parish preparing for another sucessful fiesta. He, like many other in our parish, is definitely a good example of planting the seeds and nurturing them through
  his hard work and love for our parish.

• peaking of next week’s fiesta, this is the last chance to turn in your yellow raffle books. Please turn them in to receive two free green books. If you have not received any raffle tickets, they are available after Masses or in the parish office.
  We are very much in need of your support this year in order to make this a successful fiesta. We are depending on these
  funds to finance the many essential maintenance projects we have for the summer.
  
• Today Emily Harrison will be selling bake goods outside of our Church. Please support her as she is working hard to raise money for our parish.
  

• On July 31, 2011 in the Parish Auditorium from 3:30 to 4:30 P.M. we will be having an Estate Planning Presentation. I have asked the chair of our Finance Committee and good friend Cruz Saavedra to provide this service for our
  parishioners. Many of us do not understand the law and do not prepare well and at our passing all that we have goes to
  layers and Uncle Sam. Please use this opportunity to verify that you are well prepared.

Rev. John F. Provenza

Pastor