We Are the Sowers

Jul 15, 2023

By Fr. Angelo Anthony, C.PP.S.

When we think of a farmer planting a field, we probably picture a big John Deere tractor moving through the field plowing and planting in calculated and cultivated rows. After hearing today’s Gospel, you might have thought to yourself, “That farmer Jesus spoke of was pretty sloppy when planting his seeds!”

The experience Jesus had of farming was quite different from what we see today. A farmer in the time of Jesus would walk through an unplowed field and generously scatter seed far and wide—anticipating problems such as birds, stones and weeds. Once sown, then the seed would be plowed under and the farmer would await the yield.

There is no one answer that will explain the message of a parable. By their nature, parables are open-ended and can be interpreted in any number of ways. Today’s parable is a good example of this method of teaching.

• If our focus is on the sower in the parable, then our thoughts turn to God, who generously sows seeds in every type of ground. His living Word is given for all to hear and take to heart.
• If our focus is on the seed in the parable, then our thoughts turn to the faithfulness of God. We can trust that the seed God plants will fulfill the mission it was given to do.
• If our focus is on the harvest, then at first, we might begin to worry that there will not be a good harvest because of the birds and rocks and weeds. Yet in the end, Jesus says there is an overwhelming abundance of grain produced. God’s covenant of love stands forever, we can always trust in God’s faithfulness.
• If our focus is on the soil, then our thoughts turn to the type of environment that we are preparing in our hearts to receive the Word of God. Are we easily swayed by distractions? Do worries and fears distract us? Do we make time to reflect upon life?

We can see that the farmer scattered the seed far and wide in hopes that at least some of it would grow. In the same way, God generously scatters the seeds of love in hopes that they will take root in every heart. Jesus didn’t come for just one group of people; Jesus came to save all people. The love of Jesus is not calculated or restricted. Rather, through the Precious Blood of Jesus we see that God’s love is generous, abundant and extravagant, it does not return void. God’s love always leads us to new life.

When we see ourselves as the farmer in today’s parable, then we have accepted the call to be disciples and missionaries. We are to be people of faith sowing seeds of God’s love generously, hearing the call to be the hands of Christ, to be his voice, his ears, and his heart.

There was once a monk who was walking along the street and he came upon a poorly dressed woman and her child, both homeless and hungry. The monk, angered at the sight, cried out to God: “How can you allow this to happen? Why aren’t you doing something about this suffering?”

God was silent for a while then said, “I did do something about it. I made you.”

You and I are called to sow seeds of compassion and hope in lives that are rocked with anxiety or fear over the increasing violence and disrespect in our communities. We are called to sow seeds that proclaim dignity and respect for all life to a world choking upon the weeds of selfishness and apathy. This is what St. Paul was doing when he wrote his letter to the Romans. Even though he experienced rejection, imprisonment and suffering, Paul announced a message of hope: “Brothers and Sisters, I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.”

Yes, life is challenging these days. It’s important for us to always remember that Christ is our salvation. Think of the little plant that grows and blossoms in a small crack in the sidewalk. We wonder to ourselves, “How did that seed ever make it with such poor growing conditions?” Salvation history teach us that God’s first words and God’s last words are always the same: “Let there be life!”

Fr. Angelo Anthony, C.PP.S., is the director of vocations for the US Province of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. He also serves as the vice moderator general of the worldwide Congregation.

Fr. Clarence E. Williams, Jr., C.PP.S., 1950-2023

Jul 11, 2023

Fr. Clarence E. Williams, Jr., C.PP.S., 73, died on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at Jennings Nursing Home, Garfield Heights, Ohio. He had been in failing health in recent years.

He was born on May 10, 1950, in Tuscaloosa, Ala., to Clarence E. Williams Sr. and Lula Belle (Woods) Williams. Raised in Cleveland, he entered the Congregation in 1965 at Brunnerdale, the Missionaries’ former high school seminary near Canton, Ohio. He was ordained in Cleveland on October 28, 1978.

Fr. Williams was a writer, preacher and pastor who throughout his more than 40 years as a priest was an advocate for Black Catholics and for racial justice and understanding.

After his ordination, Fr. Williams entered parish ministry at St. Anthony Church, first as an assistant then as pastor.

In 1995, he was assigned to the Archbishop Lyke International Center in Detroit. He also served as director of African American ministries for the Archdiocese. In all, he ministered in the Archdiocese for more than 25 years.

In 1998, he received a doctoral degree in global education and cultural communication from the Union Institute and University of Cincinnati. He authored three books, many articles and gave presentations throughout the country on the theme of Racial Sobriety, a term with which he described his process for dealing with racism as a social illness, and a treatment program to help individuals and groups overcome racism. He established an institute, Recovery from Racism, dedicated to forming leaders and creating programs to counter racism. His work gained much attention from the Church, and he was invited to speak in many dioceses in the U.S. and abroad.

He was also the co-founder of Building Bridges in Black and Brown, a national dialogue between African American and Hispanic American communities. Through this initiative, he helped others explore the possibilities of a “pluricultural” world, a way to honor each individual as a child of God yet appreciate the complexities and gifts of each culture, and how they might benefit each other.

In 2007, Fr. Williams was named the director of racial equality and diversity for Catholic Charities USA, based in Washington, DC. Throughout these years of ministry, he was also active in multi-media productions, acting as executive producer on a number of video projects, including several that highlighted the history and gifts that Black Catholics bring to the Church.

He also continued in parish work, serving from 2010-12 at Holy Innocents-St. Barnabas in Roseville, Mich. From 2012-18, he was pastor of St. James the Less Church in Columbus, Ohio. He continued to give presentations on Racial Sobriety and other topics.

Fr. Williams’ many awards include a lifetime achievement award from the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus; the Dr. Martin Luther King “Keep the Dream Alive” Award during his time at St. Anthony Church in Detroit; and the Msgr. Phillip Murnion Award for Pastoral Excellence from the National Pastoral Life Center in New York.

He could speak compellingly to a crowd, yet make a solitary person feel completely heard and understood. A cheerful extrovert, he was happy to reach out to people from all walks of life. His educational achievements helped him excel as a communicator, but he never talked down to people and always appreciated the gifts they brought to the table of faith and fellowship. Despite his busy schedule, he supported his religious community in many ways, including serving as director of formation and as a member of its provincial council. He was a good friend to his fellow Missionaries and offered them encouragement and affirmation.

Though health issues plagued his final years, he never lost his sense of optimism and hope that the children of God could learn to live together, free of racism and hate. Even on his worst days, he longed to get back to his active ministry to further the cause of healing through the Precious Blood of Jesus.

Fr. Williams is survived by his father, Clarence E. Williams, Sr., of Cleveland; four younger brothers, Thomas D., Charles (Donna), Willie E. (Mercedes), and Carl (Cheryl), all of Cleveland; and numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Lula Belle.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Charles Center, Carthagena, Ohio, on Monday, July 17, at 2 p.m. with Fr. Jeffrey Kirch, C.PP.S., provincial director, presiding. Fr. William O’Donnell, C.PP.S., will be the homilist.

Viewing at St. Charles will be held on Sunday, June 16, from 2-5 p.m., with a prayer service at 5 p.m. led by Fr. Andrew O’Reilly, C.PP.S.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Adalbert Church, Cleveland, at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18. Fr. Richard Friebel, C.PP.S., will preside. St. Adalbert was Fr. Williams’ home parish, and he attended the parish school.

Viewing will be held at St. Adalbert from 11 a.m. until the time of Mass on Tuesday.

Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Cleveland. He will be laid to rest next to his mentor, Fr. Gene Wilson, C.PP.S.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated on Monday, July 24 at 7 p.m. at St. James the Less Church, Columbus. Fr. Stephen Dos Santos, C.PP.S., to preside and preach.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, United States Province.

Put Down Your Burden

Jul 8, 2023

By Fr. Bill Nordenbrock, C.PP.S.

As I pray with and reflect on today’s Gospel passage, a persistent image keeps coming to mind. I keep imagining a crying toddler being swept up into the arms of her daddy. Maybe the child is crying because she got scared or because she’s fallen, but once she is picked up and embraced by her daddy, she knows that she is safe and that she is going to be all right.

In the Gospel we are told that while speaking with his followers, Jesus spontaneously raised up a prayer. In our translation, we hear Jesus address the prayer to his “father,” although we know his prayer was to his “abba.” Abba is a familiar address, much like we say “daddy.” In a religious culture that did not dare to speak the name of God, Jesus prayed with a shocking degree of intimacy and familiarity. I wonder why the translator made the salutation more formal. Maybe it was too shocking for the translator? The invitation of Jesus to know God in this way, an invitation to pray like Jesus, may also be shocking to us.

In this Gospel story, Jesus is speaking to a people who believed that faithfulness was measured by their adherence to the Law. The Mosaic law was a gift of God to God’s chosen people. It was to help them to understand their relationship with God and to express that relationship in all that they did. However, sometimes adherence to the Law was imposed on people in a manner that it seemed to be a yoke or a heavy burden to carry. Within that tradition, Jesus brings a prophetic voice. Not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it (Mt 5:17).

A couple of summers ago, I was preaching a mission appeal in an unfamiliar place. After Mass, the music minister came to thank me and said: “We worship here under an air of strictness. It is nice to have someone tell us how much God loves us.”

Like at the time of Jesus, religious people today sometimes still believe that growing in our relationship with God and in faithfulness, is a mountain that we have to climb. We might think, if only I can do everything “right,” I will grow in my relationship to God. If I do everything “right,” then I will reach the peak and know the love of God.

But Jesus says: Little ones, learn from me. Be like me, meek and humble of heart. Shrug off the yoke, put down the burden that you carry. Open your arms and heart and accept the embrace of the God who loves you. When you fall on your journey of faith, when you are too afraid to do what you know to be faithful, the loving arms of God still hold you dear.
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A former moderator general of the worldwide congregation, Fr. Bill Nordenbrock, C.PP.S., resides in Chicago. He serves as the provincial secretary and treasurer of the United States Province.

All Love Flows from God

Jul 2, 2023

By Fr. James “Santiago” Gaynor, C.PP.S.

As we observe the night sky of stars and moon, it is impossible to not believe in something and someone beyond planet Earth. As we observe the sun rise of a new day and how wonderfully the planet turned on its axis in the last 24 hours and how the seasons change from spring to summer, from summer to fall, from fall into winter and once again back to spring, we conclude that someone has to behind this marvel.

As we appreciate people around us, that is wonderful thing. Above all, the parents who bring us into this world, feed us, accompany us in growing up, in studies: grade school, high school and college, covering the cost of food, clothing and shelter. What sacrifice!  No doubt there was a lot of love there. We might be tempted to dedicate ourselves totally to them, but that would be a mistake, since they too are the product of the creation of an all-caring God.  We owe God our attention even beyond what we give our parents.

There will be other people in our lives for whom we feel a great affection. In my own case, this would be my sister Alice, who died a few weeks ago. She was the sibling who was always two steps ahead of me in learning and helping me learn, in growing up and helping me grow up. Even though she means a lot to me, she was only using the talents God gave her to favor me. She left a note directing us that in her funeral liturgy we read the Gospel from John in which Jesus says: “Don’t be sad at my going. I am going to prepare a place for you, so that where I am, you may also be.” She indicated to me: don’t look to me but to God.

There are going to be crosses and losses in life. In his book “Forming Fathers,” Carter Griffin reflects on why the Cross? He writes, “We have to get over our fear of suffering. There is no other way to love. Picture in your mind a young man, kneeling in front of his beloved with a diamond ring, asking her to marry him. Misty eyed, he says. ‘I love you, my dear, and I will love you for the rest of my life as long as it is easy. I will love you forever as long as I don’t suffer for it.’ Suffering is inseparable from love.”

God, who is love, always dwells within us, so that, when we do something good, it is not because we are a good Santiago, but rather, because we are a Christian gifted by the God who dwells in us. Without him we would be able to do nothing.

Fr. James “Santiago” Gaynor, C.PP.S., who served in Peru for many years, this month begins his new assignment as a member of the pastoral staff at St. Gaspar Family of Parishes.