Kaukauna Catholic Parishes

Greetings! We are now back in Ordinary Time, liturgically. It is the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B. We have recently
celebrated Corpus Christi (The Body and Blood of Christ), the Holy Trinity, Pentecost (the birth of the Church), the

Ascension, and in our secular world-recognized Memorial Day, very powerful for me this year. Mother’s Day was just a month ago, and next weekend is Father’s Day. Many of our students have graduated, and others made their First Communion or received the sacrament of Confirmation, and children are being baptized, and couples getting married. Our 50^th Class Reunion from High School is next weekend. Things are opening up in our society and this brings forth a sense of hope.

In our first reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel, we hear of God planting trees, and we learn, “They shall put forth branches and bear fruit.” This is a message of hope; bursting forth. God is counting on US to “bear fruit” in various aspects of our life, to be people of hope.

In order to be people of hope requires faith. In the 2^nd reading, from St. Paul to the Corinthians, he says, “We are always courageous, for we walk by faith, not by sight.” This is critical. St. Paul goes on, referring to God, “We aspire to please Him.” This takes an element of trust.

Jesus uses parables in our Gospel from Mark to reinforce all of this. Jesus said to the crowd, and it applies to us today: “This is how it is with the Kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and through it all the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. On its own accord, the land yields fruit.” God is always at work.

Jesus also says, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God? It is like a mustard seed, that when it is sown, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants.” This is all about hope, and we should never underestimate what God can do. The seed of our faith can blossom just like this, and many of us have experienced that. For all of our staff and volunteers who minister in Discipleship and Faith Formation (of children, youth and adults) and our school – please keep this in mind. You are planting seeds, and we pray that the harvest will help beautify our families, church, community and the world.

In all of this, we invite you to live life with an “attitude of gratitude.” Our Psalm this weekend is: “Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.” In the midst of life’s challenges, please take some time this week and consider how much God has blessed you, and give thanks. God has blessed us, and may we respond by being people of hope, persevering in prayer, and bearing fruit that will last.

Peace in Christ,

Deacon Steve