CDA 2009: Sowing seeds for Christ

“This is the meaning of the parable. The seed is the word of God.… But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.” Luke 8:11, 15

Springtime is here and we can look around and see God’s hand at work. Beautiful blooming flowers reveal all of God’s glory in their colors. Green covers the surrounding mountains and birds fill the sky with their song as they build a nest for their future little ones.

As we journey through our Easter season and enter into the season of harvest we should reflect on where we have planted our own seeds. Have we toiled in the fields, prepared the soil and lovingly invested in a crop that will bring much fruit?

The Serrano family has received many blessings from our service with the CDA. We have worked side by side with supportive staff, wonderful and holy priests and with our devoted shepherd, Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted, who inspired us to respond to “What more can we do for the kingdom of God?”

When we were asked by our bishop to chair the Charity and Development Appeal, we were both overwhelmed with joy and a little concerned about what we could accomplish. We are just a family in the Mexican food restaurant business, and as a family we all try to serve the Church and our Lord to the best of our ability.

When we asked Bishop Olmsted what he would like us to focus on while raising money for those in need, we were very humbled by his response. Bishop Olmsted expressed to us that his greatest desire would be for our diocese to understand the impact of family and the importance of prayer. Yes, we need financial support to help others, but our shepherd’s deepest hopes for the Diocese of Phoenix is that our families will have a focus of prayer as a true reflection of our Church and our Lord.

Did we sow seeds?

During our time of Lent, we made different sacrifices to try and have a closer relationship with Christ, our Church and our community. Looking back, we should be able to ask ourselves: Where did we plant our seeds? Have we planted seeds for harvest? Did we plant seeds of inspiration in our families and community? Have we offered inspiration by our example in listening and praying for others?

Are we planting seeds of truth in our relationship with others by showing respect, integrity, and honesty? Have we planted seeds of faith by sharing our faith and offering service? Do we understand that our hope for the future rests in our faith? Have we sown seeds of our love for Christ and our neighbor? Have we offered prayer on a daily basis to speak with God and more importantly to remain silent and hear His response?

At all the Masses of May 9 and 10 we are going to have a weekend of renewal and prayer in our diocese. Every pastor has been asked to encourage you to offer your intentions by writing them on a CDA Prayer Request card. These cards will be prayed over at each parish and then each card will be brought before Bishop Olmsted, who will say a special Mass for your needs and intentions.

Everyone has a need to bring to prayer. You may have a sick relative, know someone with financial needs or want to ask for your own healing with our Church. Praying for those in our broken environment will be sowing seeds to bring a renewal of our hope and faith.

The CDA still needs financial support to be able to minister to and serve those in our community. Please keep those who are without hope in your prayers and join us with your gifts of time, talent and treasure. Plant your gifts from God in the good soil. As part of our community, we are the seeds that can make it grow.

Every need is important to Christ. When we have heard His word, let us embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through our perseverance. Christ is the grace and mercy cultivating the harvest of goodness and all that is noble and we, the community, are the seeds.

Ric and Davonna Serrano are the co-chairs for the 2009 Charity and Development Appeal. Send comments to letters@catholicsun.org.

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Ric and Davonna Serrano, co-chairs for the 2009 Charity and Development Appeal, are parishioners at St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Gilbert. Please send comments to letters@catholicsun.org.