Bulletin reflection for 12 July 2026 - 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our Clinton public school students are getting close to the end of the school year. I remember when the summer months allowed all of us some down time and some time to plan for the rest of the year, but it seems that the summer months now are as busy as the rest of the year. This weekend, in my role as vicar general, I have been asked to visit the two parishes in Clarksdale and in Shelby up in the Delta for their weekend Masses. I also have been filling in at some daily Masses for Father Cesar at St Jude in Pearl as he will be gone for a month in Mexico dealing with his immigration and Visa paperwork. We are in the midst of celebrating the novena of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with our beloved Carmelite sisters at their monastery in South Jackson. As a Diocesan priest, and with the way our society has become more fractured in recent years, I realize that it is very much worth the effort to be in solidarity with all our brothers and sisters in Christ and to celebrate around the table of the Lord with them when possible. We look forward to the ordination of Hunter and Chris to the Diaconate next weekend. Our love and prayers go out to them and their families as they prepare this week. I hope that we have a good representation from our parish at their ordination. Have a blessed week everyone. Father Lincoln. 

Catholic blessing for the 4th of July

God, source of all freedom, the fourth of July is bright with the memory
of those who declared that life and liberty are your gift to every human being. Help us to continue this good work begun long ago. Make our vision clear and our will strong, that we as a nation may bring people together. In human solidarity and the values of the Gospel, may we find dignity, liberty, and justice. To the family of nations, let us offer friendship and let us work together for stewardship of the earth and our common resources. Bless our nation today as we celebrate the fourth of July and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. As our nation was consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in honor of our 250th anniversary by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, may the Sacred Heart bless our nation, watch over us, lead us and guide us. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN. 

2 Julio 2026 - oraciones de los Fieles - jueves de XIII semana del tiempo ordinario

Con corazones humildes, presentamos nuestras oraciones a Dios de misericordia:

1. Que nuestros líderes de la Iglesia y nuestros líderes del gobierno nos guíen siempre con justicia y paz.  Roguemos al Señor.

2. Que haya alimentos suficientes, atención médica y vivienda para todas las personas. Roguemos al Señor.  

3. Que nuestra vida diaria dé testimonio de nuestra fe. Roguemos al Señor.

4. Por todos los que nos han precedido en la muerte. Que los fieles difunto participen del banquete en la presencia de Cristo, en la gloria eterna del cielo.  Roguemos al Señor.

5. Por los niños y los jovenes. Por sus actividades este verano. Roguemos al Señor.

6. Por la sanación de quienes más necesitan el amor y el cuidado de Dios. Roguemos al Señor.

7. Por las oraciones en la profundidad de nuestros corazones. Roguemos al Señor.

Con fe y esperanza, presentamos nuestras oraciones por tu hijo Jesucristo, nuestro Señor por los siglos de los siglos. AMÉN.

2 de julio de 2026 - jueves de la XIII semana del Tiempo ordinario - Amós 7, 10-17

En nuestra lectura del profeta Amós, escuchamos cómo Amós fue expulsado del santuario de Betel por sus críticas al rey de Israel. Amós había predicho que la casa del rey moriría a espada. En efecto, el hijo del rey sería asesinado en su reino como rey. Las palabras de Amós fueron consideradas una traición, pero desde la perspectiva del profeta, él estaba transmitiendo las palabras de Dios a su pueblo. Él era solo el mensajero, no quien formulaba el mensaje.

Necesitamos evaluar nuestras palabras y nuestras acciones en el contexto de los valores de nuestra fe y del mensaje del Evangelio de Jesucristo. Necesitamos escuchar a los profetas de Dios y arrepentirnos de nuestros pecados y de nuestras tentaciones.

Hoy, recibimos el sacramento de la unción de los enfermos, el sacramento de sanación de la Iglesia. Cristo entra nuestra vida en este sacramento. Necesitamos recibir sanación en mucho sentidos - en nuestro cuerpo y en nuestro alma. Damos gracias por la presencia de Cristo en nuestra vida. 

12 July 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A - prison ministry

Lord Jesus - you call us to provide fertile soil for God in our lives. 

Christ Jesus - you are the holy word of God. 

Lord Jesus - you are our savior and our redeemer. 

Priest: After listening to God’s word at mass today, we now turn to God in prayer, asking for the grace and strength to accept his Word and to do God’s will.

 1. That we the baptized may sow the seed of Christ’s Good News throughout the world and help to bring about a rich harvest. We pray to the Lord.  

2. That creation may be set free from corruption and pollution as we humans show greater care for all that God has made. May we be good stewards of God’s creation.  We pray to the Lord.  

3.  For those living in areas of famine or drought. For those affected by storms or natural disasters. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For those suffering with illnesses, disease, addictions, or mental health issues. May the Holy Spirit may come to them in mercy, relieve their pain and their afflictions, and grant them healing and wholeness. We pray to the Lord.  

5. Despite the difficulties and challenges we face on our journey of faith, may we have faith that God is always at work in us, no matter what our reality may be. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For all who have died, especially our loved ones and family members. May they rejoice in the mercy of God and the triumph of the resurrection. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For our children and our families. May the Lord continue to bless them on their journey. May they feel our love and prayers.  We pray to the Lord. 

8. For the men in the BMU program. For the men here at CMCF in the hospice and infirmary. We pray to the Lord. 

9. In silence, we pray to the God of Mercy for our own prayer intentions and for the special prayer intentions of others. We pray to the Lord. 

 Priest:  Creator God, you nourish us with your Word that we may have life.  Open our ears that we may clearly hear you speaking to us and make our hearts fertile soil in which your Word may take root and bear much fruit.  We make these through Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  Amen.

12 July 2026 - prayers of the faithful for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A

Introduction - We gather together as a community of faith today in the middle of our hot Mississippi summer. We hear readings today that appeal to our sense of nature and God’s creation, of a sower that plants seeds on different types of ground. We are called to provide fertile soil for our faith and for the Holy Spirit to work within us. May we open our hearts and minds to the way God will speak to us at Mass today. 

Lord Jesus - you call us to provide fertile soil for God in our lives. 

Christ Jesus - you are the holy word of God. 

Lord Jesus - you are our savior and our redeemer. 

Priest: After listening to God’s word, we now turn to God in prayer, asking for the grace and strength to accept the Word and to do God’s will.

1. That we the baptized may sow the seed of Christ’s Good News throughout the world and help to bring about a rich harvest. We pray to the Lord. 

2. That creation may be set free from corruption and pollution as we humans show greater care for all that God has made. We pray to the Lord.  

3.  For those living in areas of famine or drought. May the Lord may visit their land, provide nourishing rain, and bless it with an abundant yield. We pray to the Lord. 

4. For those suffering with illnesses or disease. May the Holy Spirit may come to them in mercy, relieving their pain and granting them healing. We pray to the Lord. 

5. For all of us gathered here in worship at Mass today. Despite the difficulties and challenges of life, may we have faith that God is always at work producing good spiritual fruit within us. We pray to the Lord. 

6. For all who have died, especially our loved ones and family members. May they rejoice in the mercy of God and the triumph of the resurrection. We pray to the Lord. 

7. For our children, youth, and college students. May the Lord continue to bless them on their journey. We pray to the Lord. 

8. In silence, we pray to the God of Mercy for our own prayer intentions and for the special prayer intentions of others. We pray to the Lord. 

Priest:  Creator God, you nourish us with your Word that we may have life.  Open our ears that we may clearly hear you speaking to us and make our hearts fertile soil in which your Word may take root and bear much fruit.  We make these through Jesus Christ, our Lord forever and ever.  Amen. 

12 July 2026 - 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time CYCLE A - Matthew 13:1-23

It is amazing to think about how rapidly the population of the world has grown. In 1804, the population of the world reached 1 billion people for the first time in history.  In 1927, the population reached 2 billion.  Today, the population of world is approximately 8.3 billion people. Both China and India each have more than 1.4 billion people. Food is one issue countries have faced with this growing population.  In the 1960s, agronomists knew this challenge was coming. One agronomist from the United States went to India with a newly developed wheat seed. He convinced the Indian authorities to try this new seed. They planted this new strain of wheat in the Punjab region of India; the results were amazing. They later introduced a new variety of rice. These new seeds enabled India and other Asian countries to avert famine. Today, with its huge population, India produces a food surplus and has become a major rice exporter. This story illustrates the power of a seed, how it can change the world. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us about power of the word of God using the parable of the sower who sows seeds in different types of ground. 

For 3 weeks in a row, Jesus will speak in parables from Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus used parables to help the people better understand the Kingdom of God. As we hear about the sower who sows some seed that dies, while other seeds take root and produce fruit, we can think about how God’s word taking root in our lives and the ways we sow the seeds of God’s kingdom. Like a farmer who faces floods, drought, or other kinds of disasters, as disciples, we are called to plant seeds of hope and faith through our evangelization efforts, to sow the best seeds available to us. Just as the farmer uses the sun, wind, and rain to produce a good harvest, we are to use the reality of God’s creation around us to sow and plant. As the Son of God, Jesus works through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, providing the grace to nourish and sustain our faith. If we apply ourselves in our life of faith, if we use the resources around us, and if we give it our best effort, will we be able to truly grow as disciples ourselves and evangelize others. 

Some years ago, evangelizer Sherry Waddell was the speaker at our Diocesan convocation. She is the author of a book entitled Forming Intentional Disciples. In her book, Waddell states that we make a big mistake in our parishes by assuming that all those who have been baptized and grow up Catholic are truly evangelized themselves. She asserts that many baptized Catholics who attend mass on a regular basis have not really been evangelized yet and do not know how to live productive spiritual lives. Yet, the challenges we have in our life of discipleship should not frustrate us or cause us to be cynical. We are to face our challenges with enthusiasm and hope, to be on fire for the Lord. 

Jesus’ message was rejected in his hometown. He received opposition and hostility from the Jewish authorities.  Many times, the synagogues refused Jesus entrance to preach, causing him to go out to preach to the people on the hillsides and the shore. Jesus’ parable today about the seeds that were sown in different types of soil attempted to encourage the apostles and give them hope. This parable assured them that his Good News would produce the intended affect in spite of the challenges and opposition. At the time Matthew was writing his Gospel, his Jewish-Christian community also experienced a lot of adversity, just as we modern disciples face many challenges as well.  

Father Raju had been asking for me to come up and visit you here in Clarksdale and Shelby for a while now. In the midst of my busy schedule in the Jackson area, with my parish ministry and chancery work and prison ministry, I am glad I have the opportunity this weekend to visit all of you. I know that chancery office can feel so far away from here. But know that our hearts are with you in the challenges that we all face in our ministries. I was a teacher in Greenville for 4 years before I became a priest. And I was pastor in Yazoo City and Belzoni for 2 1/2 years, so I know the reality of the Delta, and I really enjoyed my time in the Delta. We all need to find hope and encouragement in our lives of faith, don’t we? I know that the Catholic community in the Delta has a lot of history and a lot of commitment to the faith. With the Catholic schools in Greenville and in Clarksdale, that tradition is being kept alive in Catholic education. Keeping our parishes alive in the Delta is important. So, it is great to be with you this weekend and to celebrate together around the altar of the Lord.