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“A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed feel on the path and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground... Some seed fell among thorns… But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit.”(Matthew 13:4-8)What kind of farmer throws his seed on rocky ground? Isn’t that a waste of good seed? These are understandable questions because they come from minds—like mine— that were trained to be practical. In fact, when I served in the Altiplano of Peru, a farmer I knew was scandalized by this Gospel. Seeds are essential to the livelihood of an agricultural people. What could be more wasteful than sowing seeds on rocky ground? But, I’ve come to learn, God works in ways that may appear to be profligate but actually are a sign of something else: the generosity of our Creator and the expansiveness of the Gospel. God does not squander the gift of love. God’s love is immense, exorbitant, without limits or discrimination. Everyone is entitled, everyone is the object of a love that is deep and lavishly bestowed. The sharing is not confined to “good soil.” In God’s eyes, everyone is deserving, which means no point in getting caught up in practicalities or making distinctions. Just share the love generously, the way God does.Friend, could we have any greater example of generosity than the selfless dedication of our healthcare and service workers? Rather than seeing ourselves as “practical farmers,” let’s accept the challenge to be exorbitant in love, generous in spirit, and relentless in giving witness to the healing grace that comes in caring for one another. May your orchards be filled with God’s grace.

“The Lord is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works. That Lord lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.”(Psalm 145:14) We do look to the Lord to lift us up right now. The experience of the past months has educated us, we know what it means to be fallen and bowed down. And we know what heroism in the face of adversity looks like. It is humbling and reassuring at the same time. Celebrating July 4, our nation’s Independence Day, was especially poignant this year. We honored our healthcare and medical workers and our dedicated first-responders as well as all the service workers who make living our daily lives possible. They have set an example for the ages. These selfless individuals understand the call to serve and protect the most vulnerable. They exemplify for me the spirit of mission. And on this special holiday weekend, they model the fulfillment of our nation’s highest ideals. As you finish your July 4th celebration, I invite you to think about how you might fulfill our nation’s ideals as only you can. Our great national holiday calls for a rededication to our founding principles—and a firm commitment to help those for whom the American dream is not fully realized. Friend, I believe in my heart that we all want our nation to be the best it can possibly be, in good times and in bad. The example of so many in recent months only confirms that for me. We’ll know we have achieved our highest aspirations—the patriots’ vision of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”—when the gift of our mission spirit lifts up all those in need.

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me”(Matthew 10:40) In the bible, the number “seven” refers to completeness and perfection. When Jesus was asked how many times we should forgive someone, he said “seven times 70.”As the symbol of God’s love, which is infinity itself, the notion of “seven” is sacred.The reason I am expressing gratitude today “7,000 times” is for the legacy of mission represented by Maryknoll’s Jubilee Class of 2020—and, at least by my calculation, their 7,000 years of service. Jubilee Day is when we thank God for the past service of our missioners. Among this year’s class are missioners who have served for 25, 40, 50, 60, 65 and even 70 years. The call to serve runs remarkably deep in this group. Two of them have served in mission for 70 years—there’s that number again!—and they continue to serve in full-time prayer ministries. 

We bless their continuing journeys and are grateful for their calling to mission and the generous way they not only accept God’s blessings but share them with the world. Each act of kindness or compassion, by a Missioner or by a person of faith just like you, adds a grain of sand to the mountain we are building together. And that mountain is the Kingdom of God.Friend, Jubilee Day reminds me of the countless communities all over the world that have been touched by Maryknoll and the spirit of mission. They are lasting testaments to the power of the Gospel, and the healing grace of God’s love. This is your day to celebrate, too. Go forth on Sending Day and fulfill the mission that God has called you to. Let’s make each day Sending Day.

“I pray to you, O Lord, for the time of your favor, O God! In your great kindness answer me with your constant help. Answer me, O Lord, for bounteous is your kindness; in your great mercy turn toward me.”(Psalm 69:14)Friend, I wonder if the writer of Psalm 69 knew about Father’s Day. It certainly seems that way.This scripture is the perfect prayer of humility for any man raising offspring and seeking God’s help to fulfill his many special, and sometimes difficult, roles— as caregiver, consoler-in-chief, and faithful follower of the Gospel.Fathers are ever protective of their flock. They are vigilant, they do all they can to shield their children from harm. But fatherhood is also a delicate balance between protecting an innocent child and allowing that child to grow. How much freedom? How much control? These are the challenges of fatherhood.Father’s Day is a good time to stop and think how much God loves and understands us—in the same way we are called to understand those we love, serve, and wish to protect. Today’s scripture is asking for understanding… for kindness… for generosity. All the things we associate with good fathering.Friend, whether you are a father, or celebrating someone who is, say a prayer with me that God will bless men of good will everywhere with strength for the journey. May they always be a reflection of God’s fatherly love.

You probably want to know what I mean by “God’s healing math.” I speak not as a mathematician! But as a fellow pilgrim on the same Journey of Faith that you’re on. In my mission experience, the more I give, the more I receive. Acts of charity and compassion create a two-way street with a return address that usually belongs to me. Some call it a law of the universe. I call it God’s healing math. Love begets more love. Today is the feast of Corpus Christi and Friday is the feast of the Sacred Heart—two major observances in the life of our Church that represent Christ’s limitless love for us. Corpus Christi is the very essence of our faith. To participate in the Body and Blood of Christ through the Eucharist is to accept new life and be renewed by it. In moments of renewal, we witness Christ’s love as never before. That’s what enables us to serve better, to show more compassion, and to heal ourselves in the process. It’s fuel for the soul.“Do this in memory of me.” The words that I say at the Consecration of the Mass are all about life. And sacrifice as well. It was through his death on the Cross that Jesus gave us eternal life. That’s why we are strengthened when we give ourselves up to God and one another in memory of Christ’s passion. Through acts of selflessness and sacrifice, we witness God’s eternal love and become worthy of the salvation he promised. Friend, God’s love for us is boundless and not subject to any mathematical formula—except the ones we invent! However we try to quantify God’s passionate love for humankind, we will always come up short. But if you want a glimpse of infinity, celebrate the Eucharist with me today, virtually or in your parish church if possible, on the feast of Corpus Christi. I think you’ll experience God’s healing math. Sincerely yours in Christ,Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

When he wrote his letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul might have been thinking about the rejoicing we were all set to share yesterday on Ordination Day. Well, things got turned around through no fault of our own, and I think Paul would understand why: the unwelcome reality of quarantines and lockdowns.Yesterday Deacon Gregory McPhee was to have become a Maryknoll priest. And Friday was the day Father Alejandro Marina, a Maryknoll priest associate who served in Latin America, would have been incardinated as a Maryknoll priest. To accommodate travel schedules and travel restrictions (something the itinerant Paul would surely appreciate), Deacon Greg will be ordained on August 22. Meanwhile, Father Alejandro was incardinated as a Maryknoll priest on May 25, and three seminarians took their oaths, again in a private modest ceremony.Despite the change of plans, these are still blessings that could not have come at a better time—or without your prayers.Deacon Greg had an unconventional path to the missionary priesthood but a rich one nonetheless. He started out in life as a defense attorney. That’s when he began drifting away from the Church in favor of the material world. But in the end that left him wanting. Thanks to the Holy Spirit, Deacon Greg began to find fulfillment in community service—and prayer. A meeting with a Maryknoll father convinced him that he was being called to religious life as a missionary priest. Following ordination, Deacon Greg will leave the States for Bolivia where he will witness the Gospel and fulfill his one wish: “I want nothing more than to be an example of Christ for those in need, to be someone who can be trusted,” he says, “and to recognize the goodness in people that others may not.”Father Alejandro is from Argentina and has been in the process of joining Maryknoll for the past five years. He has worked with our missioners in Bolivia for a decade or so as a Maryknoll priest associate, blessing our work among the poor. We welcome him now as a fellow Maryknoller.And the blessings continue… today we have many remarkable young men...

Did you know that today is your birthday—and mine, too? Believers the world over celebrate Pentecost Sunday as the birthday of our Church. Fifty days after Easter, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and gave them the gift of tongues. From that day forward, they were missioners of the Gospel, fortified with the Holy Spirit to make disciples of all nations. Because we are part of the universal Church—missioners called to love and serve the Lord—today is our birthday, too. On that first Pentecost Sunday, Peter called all those present to be baptized—many thousands who had gathered for a Jewish festival. These men and women were among the first Christians, and Peter our first Pope. Their devotion to Christ and one another was the seed that would grow our Church over the centuries. The day we were baptized is the day we received the same call to love and serve the Lord. On Pentecost Sunday, God reminds us that each of us is a unique messenger with special gifts, charged with making our own contribution to the life of the Church, and with transforming our world. No one else can do what each of us is capable of achieving! Why would we lose or overlook an opportunity to share the Gospel? Sometimes witnessing a simple act of faith through prayer, Mass, or the sacraments is all it takes to bring someone into the life of our Church. Today is a good day to remember that our lives will be a fulfillment of God’s divine plan if we just open a path for the Holy Spirit. Friend, today though the parishes that can celebrate together will probably not sing there is a hymn you may remember from childhood. May these words be part of your birthday celebration that lasts all year long:Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest,and in our souls take up the rest;Come with the grace and heavenly aidto fill the hearts which thou hast made.

Some of the most reassuring words in the Gospel come from the evangelist Matthew who tells us that Jesus will be with us always, even until the end of time. The story of the Ascension is our spiritual touchstone—the fulfillment of Christ’s victory over death. Forty days after his resurrection from the dead, and after visiting with his apostles, Jesus made one last appearance—on Mount Olivet. With a traditional Jewish blessing, he raised his hands in a final parting and ascended into heaven to be glorified with the Father. His earthly work was completed, his mission fulfilled.The Ascension is a reminder that we, too, have been called, sent forth, and transformed in God’s glory. And by example, we are witnesses to the gift of salvation in Christ. That is our mission calling—at home, at work, at school, at prayer. The Ascension is not so much about Jesus leaving us, but Jesus sending us out to be who we were called to be. The Ascension invites us to wear a new mantle of faith… to both transform and be transformed.Friend, we know that our faith deepens and grows when we share it. That is our calling, and our reward. Remember, Jesus promised that he has prepared a place for each of us “so that where I am you also may be.” (John 14:3) when you celebrate the feast of the Ascension, know that you are destined for glory in the presence of God and all the saints.

“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence.”1 Peter 3:15-16Friend,I love Peter’s admonition to witness hope in God with gentleness and reverence. Never impose. Just live the Good News of salvation in Christ each day with joy—and be the example that changes someone’s life forever. As Pope Francis likes to remind us, Jesus is saying, “Go, don’t miss a chance to bear me witness!”The Resurrection is the reason for our hope. Christ offers us the gift of eternal life, a gift we want to share with the world. Our Holy Father says Jesus only gave us one instruction of welcome: Make missionary disciples. But make them His, not ours.When we live our mission calling with humility, we become living witnesses to the Good News of our faith: the belief that mercy defeats sin, hope ends fear, and fellowship overcomes hostility. Pope Francis says that with God’s grace, the mission heart can go beyond human boundaries “all because everyone is a precious treasure, and the meaning of life is found only in giving this treasure to others.”As the finest example of giving, we have Our Lord himself who had a special love for the sick and the poor. His witness is how I think of mission and the abundance of life that faith provides. As we have said all this month, the more we give, the more we receive, the stronger our faith grows.Friend, each of us is called to witness our faith—not with clanging cymbals but with good works and devotion to the Sacraments. Draw strength from this, knowing that the Spirit has a unique plan for you as a builder of God’s Kingdom. Be humble—and be faithful to his Word.

Friend,What gift is greater than the gift of life? I can’t think of one.Today we celebrate Mother’s Day, one of the most significant and memory-rich holidays in our calendar. Like you, I can’t help but recall the many celebrations in my home as I was growing up. Making Mom Queen for a Day gave us as much pleasure as it gave her! So we honor mothers everywhere today and ask God to bless them in their work of human creation—and for nurturing a new generation of believers, faithful to the Gospel and the abundance of life in Christ Jesus.In fulfilling their responsibilities to loved ones, mothers teach us an important life lesson: The work of creation belongs to each of us. As people of faith, each of us is charged with giving life, caring for life, and celebrating the abundance of life we talked about last week—the abundance we find in Christ Jesus.As we celebrate Moms everywhere today, let’s remember that each of us was called in Baptism to witness our faith as life-givers—no matter our title or station. Being a life-giver involves prayer and sacrifice to be sure. But the rewards are so great. I remember the women of the Altiplano in Peru where I served in mission. They were often the ones who passed on our faith to their progeny and our Church grew strong. I saw something similar in other parts of the world, too. Women and mothers are often the driving force of our faith.Friend, I salute every woman of faith on Mother’s Day and I thank God for you, too. I know you have nurtured many a soul along their journey of faith and that makes you a life-giver—just like all the mothers we remember and pray for today.

How you define “abundant life” depends a lot on your point of view. For some people it’s having security, even though we know security can be an illusion. For others it’s about acquiring things as though material objects are the source of lasting joy.Both of those ideas have little or nothing to do with creating the abundant life you and I know. The deepest and richest abundance only comes in one way: by caring for others—the way Christ did. Obviously, I’m not talking about an economic model! But the most radical form of enrichment that involves the soul. The more we give, the more we receive, the more abundant our lives.This might seem like an impossible riddle to some. But for people of faith, we know that giving in order to receive is the only way to experience God’s love. Our teacher is Christ himself. His sacrifice on the Cross was the supreme transformational act of all time. We imitate Christ each time we offer sacrifice, too—by setting aside our own needs and finding the time to care for others.Abundance and sacrifice always seem to work together. The lesson I learned long ago is that people who need help are often the first to volunteer their help. I saw this most vividly during my years in the Altiplano of Peru where families who had the least shared the most in gestures of hospitality and caregiving. These are moments when the abundance of life is never more apparent to me.Friend, it’s now more than a month since beginning our struggle with the corona virus, a good time to remember that God’s first and last word for us is always “life.” God the Son came so that we may have life and have it more abundantly—not as solitary travelers separated by social distancing but as loving, caring, and connected builders of the Kingdom on earth. May this week overflow for you with abundance and new life.

Sometimes our eyes are open, but we don’t always see... call it selective vision or just the pace of life getting in the way. Yes, our days can be filled with distractions.Today’s Gospel takes us on the road to Emmaus when two of the disciples, feeling the absence of their rabbi and leader, encounter a man whom they didn’t recognize—not at first anyway. Not until he broke bread with them just as Jesus had done at the Last Supper. And then, as Luke says, Jesus vanished.We have the benefit of prayer and the sacraments to open our eyes to many a sacred moment, although sometimes we can have selective vision, too. But it’s important to remember this: We’re on the road to Emmaus every day. The question we face is how do we recognize the risen Christ? He is here, even in the midst of the suffering caused by the coronavirus. Do we perceive his presence?I find consolation—and spiritual strength—in the fact that the Emmaus companions put aside their grief over the loss of Jesus and invited the stranger to come to their table for a meal. Their hospitality was amply rewarded when they realized they had been in the presence of the Risen Christ.Friend, finding Christ is what gives our faith richness and meaning. Whether it’s someone suffering a setback or loss, or someone offering to help us heal, that’s the presence of Our Lord. Just be open to receiving the Spirit on your personal road to Emmaus.