Parable of Growing Our Church

Fr Michael Rasicci’s homily for the 4th Sunday After Pentecost, 06/16/2024, Calvary Episcopal Church, Batavia, IL

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives the parable of the tiny mustard seed growing into the greatest of plants.

In the first lesson today, St Paul speaks of God looking into the hearts of people.

Calvary Episcopal Church here in Batavia, IL, began in 1840, when Bishop Chase first celebrated Episcopal services in Batavia. 13 years later enough members had joined Calvary so that the Episcopal Diocese of Illinois (as it was known then) recognized Calvary as a parish.

Our church has grown and evolved in all the years since then–sometimes with more members, sometimes with fewer members. We have never been huge. God looks into our hearts, and has planted a seed within each of us. We come together in Calvary to worship, to praise God, to learn, and to share. God helps us grow as individuals and as a parish community.

As St Paul says in the second lesson today, we walk on faith, not on sight. We may not perceive the growth around us. If we are growing in our faith, we can grow to what Christ has called us to be at this time and place.

(Readings: 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13; Psalm 20; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 11-13, 14-17; Mark 4:26-34)

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