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Jesus’ sermons were easily remembered because he preached to the crowds using everyday, ordinary images; things people in 1^st century Palestine would’ve understood.

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Today, for example, he likens the kingdom of God to a farmer who throws his seed everywhere. Some of that seed lands in fertile soil, some on rocky soil, some is eaten up by the birds. 

It doesn’t matter.

No matter how much of the seed is lost, the harvest will come. 

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Now that farmer has two choices: to either assist in the growth of his crops or to try and stomp them out. 

Either way, the harvest comes. Nature is resilient; it always wins.

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In a similar way, you and I have two choices when it comes to the kingdom of God: we can either assist in its growth or try to stomp it out.

Either way, the kingdom spreads. God is resilient. The harvest will come. 

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The harvest represents the end of the world – the final judgment – the moment when Jesus returns and separates those who’ve helped his kingdom grow from those who’ve tried to stomp it out.

People are held accountable.

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The Lord invites us, then, to generously toss seeds of love into our families, our workplace, and the broader world around us.

Help to spread the kingdom of God, because some – maybe not all, but some – of the seeds we cast will bear fruit.

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I’m sure we’ve all heard about the sudden, tragic death of Kobe Bryant.

He was one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

But he wasn’t just born that way. 

Although he was gifted with immense talent, Kobe had to invest tens of thousands of hours into becoming one of the greats.

His story is one of discipline and grace.

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In the Gospel, Jesus says, “To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

God rewards the willing.

It’s one thing to be talented, for example, but another thing to be great.

So much of our success in life – or lack thereof – is determined by how hard we’re willing to work.

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Perhaps this Gospel is particularly meaningful to those who’ve come across a steep mountain to climb.

Certain moments seem insurmountable in life. But all mountains can be climbed through Christ who strengthens us.

We must simply take the first step. Tomorrow the Lord will give us the grace we need to take the second step, and then the third.

Even the tallest mountains are conquered by taking one small step at a time.

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“To the one who has, more will be given.”

God rewards the willing, because grace builds upon nature.

Kobe reminds us of that.

He was not only an athlete who worked hard; he was also a good man – a devoted father, husband, and faithful Catholic, who went to Mass hours before he died.

May his life remind us that God is always with us, offering us the strength we need to be the best version of ourselves, one day at a time.

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This is one of the few passages where Jesus speaks directly about Satan. Perhaps a word, then, on the nature of evil and how the devil works.

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Imagine you’re in a refugee camp. People are injured, hungry, stressed, and homeless. You’re just a volunteer aid worker, handing out food and supplies.

Like the refugees, you’re tired, hungry, and sweaty, but you don’t give up because there’s still work to be done.

You’re not trying to save the world; you know by now you can’t. You’re just trying to serve your neighbor as Jesus has commanded you to do.

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Suddenly, you receive word that Satan himself has entered the camp. He’s roaming around somewhere, hiding in someone.

So how do you spot him?

Saint Paul says that Satan, “masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14), meaning he tries to blend in with the crowds as much as possible.

So how do you find him?

He’s hiding in the one person who doesn’t have dirt underneath his fingernails, sweat dripping from his face, or the look of an empty stomach. 

He may be wearing a volunteer uniform, but he’s doing nothing to help his neighbor. He just stands back and watches.

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That’s the timeless temptation of Christians – not to get our hands dirty; to just blend in; to stand back and watch.

We know that Jesus tells us to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to visit the sick and imprisoned, but there’s a world of difference between knowing what Jesus tells us to do and actually doing it.

The worst thing someone can say about us is that they cannot tell the difference between a Christian and a person without faith.

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You and I are meant to be the light of the world, the salt of the earth.

We may not be able to put an end to suffering, but we must work alleviate it. It’s what the Lord commands us to do.

How, then, will I get my hands dirty – so to speak – by loving and serving others today?