LISTENING TO GOD
Dear Celina Cluster Parishioner,

There is a difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is the ability to detect or be aware of sound. Listening is the ability to hear sound and understand what is being said. Webster’s dictionary defines listening as a conscious effort to hear. The readings today also seem to be making a distinction between hearing and listening.

In the first reading the prophet Isaiah draws an analogy between nature and the word of God. He points out that rain and snow originate in the heavens; they water the earth, making it fertile and giving bread to eat; and then they return to the heavens, having accomplished their purpose. So too the word of God comes to us, feeding us and making us fertile in the way we share the word of God with others. And then the word returns to God having accomplished it’s purpose. For the word of God to be effective, to fulfill it’s purpose, it must be heard and it must be understood. We need to listen to God.

In the gospel, Jesus tells a familiar story. A sower went out to sow. Some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up but then was scorched by the sun for lack of roots. Some fell among the thorns that choked it off. And some fell on rich soil where it produced a hundred, sixty or thirty-fold. Then Jesus says, “whoever has ears ought to hear.”

Jesus must have wondered if people were really listening. In fact, he says so, explaining why he talks in parables, “because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.” We often assume that hearing is all about the ears, but Jesus knows that it is also about the heart. The heart is an internal sentinel, standing guard over the senses. What the heart will not hear, the ears cannot hear. What the heart will not see, the eyes cannot see. Yes, we need to open our ears to hear and understand the word of God, but we also need to open hearts.

So what does Jesus want us to consciously hear and understand about today’s parable? First, he wants us to know that God is the sower and the seed is God’s word. Jesus says that some seed falls on the hard foot path where the birds come and eat it up. Unfortunately, we too can become hard like the foot path. We let our hearts and our lives become hardened or indifferent to God’s word. Sometimes the seed falls on rocky ground where it has little soil. It sprouts quickly but is scorched by the sun and dies for lack of roots. Sometimes we as Christians tend to live on the surface, we go through the motions of being Catholic, but it doesn't really permeate or fill our lives. Sometimes the seed falls among the weeds and gets choked off. Weeds are those distractions and sinful ways that keep us from following Christ faithfully. And sometimes the seed falls on good, rich soil - good family values and morals, a good set of priorities in life, and they produce abundantly, our lives bear good fruit. What kind of soil is God finding within you and I and how is God calling us to listen with our ears and our hearts?

We look forward to celebrating Mass in person with many of you this weekend, but also pray for those staying home and viewing live-streamed Masses. Please note that all three IC Masses, 5 PM Saturday, 8 AM and 11 AM Sunday will be broadcast live and available after by clicking on https://celina-ic.org/ and then the “Live Stream” on the top right corner of the IC webpage and follow prompts to the Mass. You can also find mass on FB at https://www.facebook.com/Immaculateconceptioncelina/ In our opening song we proclaim, “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, what God has ready for those who love him.” At offertory we sing, “Blest are we, who hear the word of God, who hear the word of God, and keep it.” At Communion we affirm “Food from the earth becomes blood and body; God’s holy mystery, revealed in this place.” And we go forth joyfully singing the “Canticle of the Sun: The heavens are telling the glory of God...” Lyrics to the songs can be found at the end of this email.

A few other notes –

v All Catholics in the archdiocese continue to be dispensed from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass until further notice. Those who are at risk or fearful that they or their family might become sick are encouraged to stay home and join the Church by viewing live-streamed Masses. Perhaps a family member can bring Holy Communion to them. Please contact the parish office to make arrangements. The Celina Cluster Mass schedule: Saturday - 5:00 PM IC, 7:00 PM OLG; Sunday – 8:00 AM IC, 9:00 AM OLG, 10:00 AM St Teresa, 11:00 AM IC and during the coronavirus restrictions only, we are adding a Saturday 4:30 PM at St. Teresa. Weekday Masses are as follows: IC Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 7:30 AM; OLG Masses Tuesday 8 AM, Wednesday 7 PM and Friday 8 AM; and St. Teresa Wednesday 7 PM. All IC weekend and weekday Masses will be broadcast online. Guidelines and social distancing for resuming public Masses have been posted on our parish websites and have been sent by mail to all parishioners. A few reminders:

o The faithful are strongly encouraged to wear a face mask out of genuine love and concern for all, especially entering and leaving and whenever interacting with others.

o Offering boxes/baskets will be at the entrances of church at IC and St. Teresa. Please drop in your envelope/offering as you enter. OLG will continue using long handled baskets during offertory. We are grateful for your continued generosity. Offertory envelopes can also be dropped off or sent to our respective parish offices or online contributions can be made to each of the parishes at https://celina-ic.weshareonline.org/index.aspx (Please note that WeshareOnline is hosted on the IC website to reduce administrative costs, but funds are directed to each specific parish)

o Please pick up a worship aide as you enter and begin seating toward the front of church following the color-coded pews.

o Holy Communion will be distributed to parishioners remaining in alternating pews by priest, deacon and EM’s wearing masks and using empty rows of pews to reach all parishioners. Holy Communion on the tongue is strongly discouraged.

o Parishioners are asked to remove all items after Mass. Recycle boxes for one time use worship aides will be at the entrances of church.

o Parishioners are asked to dismiss from the back of church first, or closest to entrances, respecting social distancing.

v We remember IC parishioners Robert and Bonnie Francis who died a few months ago and Clara “Rosie” Fleck who died during the week. The memorial Mass from Robert and Bonnie will be Saturday morning at 10 AM and the funeral for Rosie will be Monday at 10:30 AM. May they rest in peace.

v 2020 IC Prize Parade Tickets are now available! Tickets are $50 each and feature over $55,000 in prizes. Just one ticket gives you 33 chances to win, but extra tickets increase your chances!! To get/order your Prize Parade Raffle ticket, visit the IC parish office or send payment to: IC Parish Office, 229 West Anthony Street, Celina, OH 45822. Your official ticket will be mailed to you. Or, for tickets and more information, you can call Jeff Schott 419-305-9203, Lisa Schott 419-234-5748 or email llunz@celina-ic.org

May the Lord open our ears and our hearts to hear His Good News. Blessings and prayers, Fr. Ken & Fr. Tim

COME BACK TO ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART
Dear Celina Cluster Parishioner,

Come back to me with all your heart, don't let fear keep us apart. Trees do bend, tho' straight and tall; so must we to others' call.

Ref. Long have I waited for your coming home to me and living deeply our new life.

The wilderness will lead you to your heart where I will speak. Integrity and justice with tenderness you shall know.

Ref. Long have I waited for your coming home to me and living deeply our new life.

You shall sleep secure with peace; faithfulness will be your joy.

Ref. Long have I waited for your coming home to me and living deeply our new life.

The song Hosea(Come Back to Me) beautifully captures the essence of our first readings throughout this week from the Prophet Hosea. Israel had once again turned away from the Lord walking in errant ways, choosing pagan gods and worshipping false idols. Seeing their false heart, Hosea proclaims “it is time to seek the Lord.” Hos 10:12 Hosea then uses some of the most tender words in the Old testament to describe the love of God even while witnessing the defection and sinfulness of the people. “When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son. The more I called them, the farther they went from me. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them into my arms, I drew them with human cords, with bands of love. I fostered them like one who raises an infant to his cheeks; Yet though I stooped to feed my child, they did not know that I was their healer. My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred. I will not give vent to my blazing anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not man, the Holy One present among you; I will not flames consume you.” Hos 11:1-4,8-9 The good news for us is that even in our sinfulness and going father from the Lord, the Lord never turns away from us, but tenderly says, “Come back to me with all your heart.”

It’s been over a month since many have come back to church with the resumption of public Masses, yet we also have folks who are at risk or fearful that they or their family might become sick, staying home and viewing livestreamed Masses. We livestream all Masses at IC (5 PM Saturday; 9 & 11 AM Sunday; Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 7:30 AM) so that those remaining at home for safety may also be strengthened by the Lord in Spiritual Communion or family members bringing Holy Communion to the home. Please contact the parish office if you would like to bring Holy Communion to a loved one staying at home.

Below is an update on the number of people attending each Mass compared to the approximate number of people who would fit into church with safety and social distancing in mind. We hope this helps those gauging when to return to Masses safely.

St Teresa Saturday 4:30 PM Mass 48% Full
Sunday 10 AM Mass 73% Full

May we sleep secure with peace knowing the tenderness and faithfulness of our God! Blessings and prayers, Fr. Ken & Fr. Tim