Blog Post 6/16/2024 – Happy & Blessed Father’s Day

 

Terrance Klein* wrote, “On earth, we see the seeds of heaven, not the blossoms ….  The seed is the kingdom of God, which our Lord came to plant firmly on the earth.  St. Mark in Chapter 4 of his Gospel writes, ‘To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it?  It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.  But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.’

The Lord has given us the garden of our lives to tend.  Our gardening skills are to love our families, our friends our neighbors and yes, even our enemies.  Sometimes some of them, occasionally all of them are difficult to love.  So we till the ground, plant the seed, water the plants, and weed our weeds from the garden, the weeds of envy, anger, annoyance, selfishness, etc.  Those weeds keep us from letting the Holy Spirit shine through our lives.  

“We need to remember that the kingdom of God has been given to us as seed, not blossom.” 

Tend your garden and allow God to show you the blossoms at the proper time.  St. Francis de Sales said, "Let God gather to Himself what He has planted in His garden.  He takes nothing out of season."

This Father’s Day as you give thanks for your earthly father, remember to give thanks and praise to your heavenly Father. 

 

Father’s Day Blessing

 

God, our Father

Bless these men,

that they may find strength as fathers.

Let the example of their faith and love shine forth.

Grant that we, their sons and daughters,

may honor them always

with a spirit of profound respect.

 

- Author Unknown

[Jesuit resource at Xavier University]

 

 

May God Be Praised.

 

*[Rev. Terrance W. Klein is a priest of the Diocese of Dodge City is the author of Vanity Faith: Searching for Spirituality among the Stars]