The Gospel Through a Franciscan Lens – 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Fr. Christopher
“The word that goes forth from the mouth of God does not return empty. It does not come back without succeeding in what it was sent to do.”
“The word that goes forth from the mouth of God does not return empty. It does not come back without succeeding in what it was sent to do.”
Jesus comes back again and again to this image of the child, to communicate a sense of human relationship to God.
“Whoever welcomes you welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me.” Hospitality extended from one to another becomes a place of encounter. In welcoming another person, we may discover that Christ has already arrived ahead of us.
The deeper we travel through these days of Ordinary Time, the more we encounter the reality that discipleship is not simply believing certain things about Jesus. It’s about following Jesus.
Their first assignment is to connect and re-establish broken friendships among God’s people, to bring back the lost and forsaken, to speak a word that strengthens, the good news that saves, that God’s reign has come near.
Available on June 7th - Print version for sale on the Gospel to Life Bookstore. Also available for download from the National Website CNSA page.
True sharing in the prayer and the celebration of the Eucharist means that I listen, receive, and the door opens up within me, through which Christ may enter, and that I may begin to enter into Him.
“Eternal Trinity, You are like a deep sea, in which the more I seek, the more I find; and the more I find, the more I seek You.” St Catherine of Siena
The Spirit does not erase differences. The Spirit speaks through difference. Pentecost is not uniformity but aids us in understanding.
My Franciscan vocation began with the Seculars, so when the opportunity came for me to serve as a provincial delegate in 2011, I was happy to volunteer. I was in my second assignment after ordination – middle-aged as a person, but young as a friar. This service has been an incredible opportunity for me to grow and exercise our Franciscan charism. At several points, I have been grateful for those who have walked with me in leadership. My connections grew with their support, leading eventually to the positions I have now as OFS Animator for my province and National Spiritual Assistant.