Dearest Goddaughter,
Today is the Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest.
This past weekend, we had the blessed opportunity to attend the priestly ordination of Fr. Michael Thien Hoang, the son of a brother deacon of mine. Cardinal Tobin (from New Jersey) presided and many Redemptorists priests were present at the Ordination and Mass of Thanksgiving. After the Ordination Mass, the Provincial Superior, Fr. Kevin Zubel, spoke about the family and how the seed of faith that God planted is nurtured and allowed to grow and flourish in the family, the "domestic church."
In today's Gospel, we hear Jesus' parable of the mustard seed, which is the "smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches." We see this "mustard seed" in priests, deacons, and religious because their own personal faith and devotion to God grow into a faith life that others can come to them for pastoral care. In a special way, the priest's faith, prayer life, and spirituality become the canopy for the people, who God has entrusted to their care, to come and see guidance, courage, strength, and refuge in the Sacraments of the Church that is administered by the priest.
Therefore, dearest goddaughter, continue to grow in your faith, prayer life and spirituality so that the "mustard seed" that God planted in your heart may be nourished, grow, and flourish with the guidance of your parents but, most of all, with the grace from our Heavenly Father.
Love,
Bỏ Phúc
P.S. These are the readings for the day: Ex 32:15-24, 30-34 and Mt 13:31-35.
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