Sunday, July 27, 2014 Seventeenth goes out of style. Make sure those who Sunday in Ordinary Time; Parents Day preach effectively in your own faith com- What parents need most of all munity know you appreciate the effort they Parents Day was established in the U.S. in put into their sermons. And if you find the 1994—the same year the United Nations preaching less than inspiring, offer that and the Vatican sponsored “years” in honor feedback as well—in a constructive manner, of the family. All of these events were meant with ideas that can help. Great preaching is to highlight the important role families play learned through practice and reaction—oh, in society and offer parents recognition and yes, and attentive, engaged listening! encouragement. “The families that children Today’s readings: 15:10, grow up in . . . can have major effects on 16-21; :44-46 (403). “The their well-being,” according to a 2013 U.S. kingdom of heaven is like a treasure Census Bureau report. Or put more simply, buried in a field.” “If there is no love then there is no joy,” said Pope Francis in anticipation of the Thursday, July 31 October 2014 Vatican Synod on Families. Memorial of Ignatius of Loyola, priest Do your part to ensure that the children What kind of shape are you in? in your family and community are loved. “Act as if everything depended on you; trust Begin with an understanding heart. as if everything depended on God,” said Today’s readings: 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12; Ro- Saint Ignatius of Loyola. He was a person mans 8:28-30; Matthew 13:44-52 or 13:44- of action, guided by deep faith. In ups and 46 (109). “Give your servant, therefore, an downs Ignatius sought to find God and understanding heart to judge your people and help others do the same. Ignatius allowed to distinguish right from wrong.” God to shape his life and the religious order he founded, the Society of , and left a Monday, July 28 rich spiritual legacy for generations to come. In honor of Ignatius, The bread you knead consider the ways you allow God to shape your lives. If you “get your hands into” making bread, you know the mystery Today’s readings: Jeremiah 18:1-6; Matthew 13:47-53 (404). of leavening. It makes the dough rise, and as it bakes an irresist- “Whenever the object of clay which he was making turned out badly ible fragrance fills the air. The yeast pervades the dough and turns in his hand, he tried again.” it into bread. In some European villages on Saturday, the whole town would fill with the aroma of baking bread. No wonder Jesus Friday, August 1 used such a homely image for the kingdom of heaven. Once the Memorial of Alphonsus Liguori, bishop, Doctor of the church Word of Christ has been incorporated, kneaded, into human experi- Speak boldly and kindly ence, the whole rises. You come alive. Christ fills every space, every It’s not always easy to speak the truth. All too often sharing what’s soul. Put on your apron. There’s work to do. right and true meets opposition, hurt, and insult. Yet being true Today’s readings: Jeremiah 13:1-11; Matthew 13:31-35 (401). to who you are, what you believe, and what that belief calls you “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast.” to can make all the difference. Saint Alphonsus Ligouri, moral theologian and founder of the Redemptorists, knew that. Alphon- Tuesday, July 29 Memorial of Martha sus was a priest for and of the people. Speaking with simplicity Put housework in its place and kindness, he won the hearts of many while sharing hard moral It appears that the pressure on women to be perfect housekeepers realities. Truth isn’t always easy, but shared with compassion it has and hostesses existed all the way back to biblical times. Like her the power to transform lives and truly be Good News. namesake Martha Stewart, Saint Martha was trying to be a domes- Today’s readings: Jeremiah 26:1-9; Matthew 13:54-58 (405). tic dynamo. Can you blame her when she had someone like Jesus “Whatever I command you, tell them, and omit nothing.” for a guest? And her sister Mary had the gall to sit around and socialize with him without helping out! Jesus chides Martha—af- Saturday, August 2 Memorial of Eusebius of Vercelli, bishop fectionately, you can tell. He tells her to do as Mary does and focus Set an extra place at dinner on what matters most: the people in our midst. Around the year 300 A.D., Eusebius realized that clergy were Today’s readings: Jeremiah 14:17-22 (402); John 11:19-27 or Luke healthier and holier when they had the support of a community. 10:38-42 (607). “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried As bishop of Vercelli in Piedmont in northwest Italy, he was the about many things. There is need of only one thing.” first to link the monastic life with that of the clergy, establishing a community of his diocesan priests. In the modern age, clergy and Wednesday, July 30 others in ministry sometimes get isolated. Make sure the pastoral Memorial of Peter Chrysologus, bishop, Doctor of the church workers who care for you have people to be with when the work Homilies can be golden moments is done and it is time to unwind. You can be part of their extended Peter Chrysologus, whose name means “golden-worded,” had the community by inviting them to dinner once in a while. Lively con- right idea as a preacher: He worked hard on his sermons because versation guaranteed! he feared that otherwise he would bore people! Though he lived Today’s readings: Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24; Matthew 14:1-12 (406). more than 1,500 years ago, his inspired form of preaching never “Now therefore, reform your ways and your deeds.”

Invest just five minutes a day, and your faith will deepen and grow—a day at a time. ©2014 by TrueQuest Communications. TakeFiveForFaith.com; 800-942-2811; [email protected]. All rights reserved. Daily email sign-up and App available online. Art may be subject to additional copyright. Noncommercial reprints permitted with the following credit: Reprinted with permission from TakeFiveForFaith.com. Scripture citations from the New American Revised Edition. Contributors: Alice Camille, Sister Colleen Gibson, S.S.J., Daniel Grippo, Father Larry Janowski, O.F.M., Sister Maxine Kollasch, I.H.M., Joel Schorn, Jennifer Tomshack, Patrice J. Tuohy, Sister Julie Vieira, I.H.M.