One of the most prolific of Gospel readings is today when Jesus prompts his disciples to identify him. The response is amazing as Simon Peter son of Jonah quips , you are the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the Living God. It is at this point Jesus renames the disciple saying you are Peter, from Greek Petra, Rock, and upon this Rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

We have come to understand that Ordinary Time brings us a great opportunity to delve into some of the foundational principles of our faith.

This stretch of Ordinary Time is long and takes us all the way to Advent. Here, before us, we unfold the public ministry of Jesus through his encounters with people, his parables, and his miracles.

We learn quite well that Jesus sets us up for success; he wants us to receive in abundance what is good, even if it is the leftovers that fall from the table for dogs to eat.

When the disciples see Jesus walking on the water, he summons them to faith—a way of living that entails leaving behind our old way of measuring things and learning to see all in the light of the One who calls to us. Yet we should not be surprised that Christ often comes in ways that “underwhelm” us, as Elijah found out in the tiny whispering sound of God’s presence.

Be Christ-like In All things.

Three things scripturally that made Jesus sad. The death of his good friend Lazarus, the death of his cousin John the Baptist, and the complex betrayal he received from Judas Iscariot. He was truly devastated by these events, even though they were part of God’s overall plan. Why would Jesus find these events so disturbing is that he was vested in love and relationship with them. Jesus truly grieved these losses because he invested much.

Ordinary Time continues to show us the way to live a fruitful life. Jesus is telling us what the Kingdom of God is likened to.

He tells us the kingdom is like fine pearls that are discovered. We learn that when we search for our treasure, we bury it only to uncover it again with renewed excitement and gratitude.

How can God work with an unconfessed heart? He can’t! How can He grow us in faith? God can work with only the willing, let that sink in. How willing are you?

Ordinary Time never disappoints, as we can contemplate some of the most foundational aspects of our faith as Catholics.

We have now turned our attention toward managing the seeds that we sow, and our desire to maintain a direct focus on Christ, and to realize that the Gospel of Mathew today unfolds for us three distinct lessons.

What kind of Sower are you? It’s an important question to ask. We sow thousands and thousands of seeds in lifetime.

We never know the mark we leave behind because of the seeds we sow and scatter. A Sower of good and holy seed sows principally faith, hope, and love. A Sower of holiness avoids seeds that are partially harmful, corrupted, and corrupted seeds.

Are we willing and ready to belong to God?

Delving deep into our Scripture passages today, as well as the Gospel of Matthew, we are secured in our desire to know God most intimately.

We are encouraged to seek understanding, to strive for forgiveness when necessary, and to reconcile with God most definitely, and with one another when at all possible.