2023 archive of The Seed
Come and Rest
Posted by St. Henry Cluster on 3/17/23
As Jesus’ disciples returned from their labors, He invited them to “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while”. These words were not just meant for the disciples following Jesus 2000 years ago – they are words He speaks to us in our own ... Read More »
Is the Lord in Our Midst or Not?
Posted by St. Henry Cluster on 3/10/23
The Book of Exodus, and its themes of slavery, liberation, penance, worship, sacrifice, and conversion, offers a context for our Lenten exercises, and this week it provides our first reading at Mass. Exodus recounts the Passover: The Angel of Death passing over the homes marked by the Blood ... Read More »
Formation of Conscience
Posted by St. Henry Cluster on 3/01/23
Following up on last week’s bulletin article and insert, I want to give a little more catechesis on conversion, specifically the necessary formation of conscience according to Scripture, Tradition, and the teaching authority of the Church in matters of faith and morals. In order to identify those areas ... Read More »
A Season of Conversion
Posted by St. Henry Cluster on 2/23/23
As I spoke about in last Sunday’s homily, Lent can get a bit of a bad rap among the seasons of the year, because we allow it to be colored by all the things we cannot do. Even us practicing Catholics can fall into the trap and believe ... Read More »
Marked for Christ
Posted by St. Henry Cluster on 2/16/23
This Sunday, we celebrate the confirmation of many young people in our parish. Confirmation is a special sacrament, and for these students, it is the last of their “Sacraments of Christian Initiation”. This sacrament – along with Baptism and Holy Eucharist – renders the recipient fully initiated into ... Read More »
A Future Full of Hope
Posted by St. Henry Cluster on 2/01/23
Two weeks ago, the communion antiphon at Mass was taken from Psalm 34: 6: “Look toward the Lord and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed.” As I listened to our cantors and choirs intone this antiphon, it occurred to me that looking toward the Lord is ... Read More »
Sacred Stillness, a Correction, and an Encouragement
Posted by St. Henry Cluster on 1/26/23
Romano Guardini was a German theologian (of obviously Italian descent), who wrote extensively on the liturgy. He once said, “if someone were to ask me what the liturgical life begins with, I should answer: with learning stillness.” Liturgical life begins with learning stillness. That’s something worth considering. We ... Read More »
At the Service of Life and Love
Posted by St. Henry Cluster on 1/19/23
For many Americans the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down both Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v Casey was welcomed with joy and relief. We feel that a “people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” and upon this land that had been so gloom-ridden by ... Read More »
Spiritually Preparing for Change
Posted by Erin Elking on 1/13/23
Spiritually Preparing for Change – Whenever we are about to undergo a transition or some kind of change, we take time tomake the necessary preparations. When moving to a new home, we take inventory and maybe declutter; when taking on anew job, we might update our wardrobe or spend ... Read More »
A Light of Revelation to the Nations
Posted by St. Henry Cluster on 1/05/23
The feast of the Epiphany ends our Christmas season this year, and on this day the Church commemorates not just one event in Jesus’ infancy, but three: The adoration of the magi from the East; the Baptism of the Lord in the river Jordan; and the Wedding Feast ... Read More »