“…it springs up and becomes the largest of plants
Mark 4:32, from Today’s Gospel
and puts forth large branches,…”
Is Father Tony trying to tell me that since I do not live within the boundaries of St. Mary’s Cathedral I should not be dwelling in the shade of its branches❓
…The “boundaries” of St. Mary’s parish did not exist when I was baptized at St. Anthony’s parish in Hereford, however when my parents moved to Amarillo, an Air Force base that was moved to the Cathedral School property as a chapel of convenience for Sacred Heart Cathedral parish had become St. Mary’s Parish, and since we lived within the “boundaries” of this newly established parish, I went to school, received my 1st Communion and was confirmed in the shade of the branches of a “lowly tree” that was destined to be lifted high;,…
…as I was turning 10 my parents built a home on some acreage south of Amarillo that lay within the “boundaries” of Blessed Sacrament parish, but my heart was “restless” and, “Lord, it is good to give thanks to you“, because when I obtained my drivers license I returned to St. Mary’s parish; subsequently, my parents followed me back shortly thereafter since “boundaries” didn’t seem to matter anymore;…
…moreover, St. Mary’s extended its branches for me “whether (I was) at home or away“, because while I attended Texas A&M University in College Station I rested in the shade of St. Mary’s there, and upon my return to the “boundaries” of St. Mary’s, Amarillo in 1980, I found that the church of my youth had grown;…
…and given that “The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower.
All who come to him will live forever“, it was “truly right and just” that I would come to Him at St. Mary’s parish…
…consequently, using today’s parable of the “Mustard Seed” as the Gospel reading, my wife Kim and I were married and raised our family at St. Mary’s parish; and although I believe Father Tony rambled on about “boundaries” as a way of promoting the upcoming Mass Block Parties, and not as a way of telling me that I don’t belong at the now Cathedral parish, shouldn’t I stand up and challenge Fr. Tony by asking, “Hasn’t St. Mary’s sprung up and become “the largest of plants” and put “forth large branches so that” wherever I live in the Diocese of Amarillo can I not say, ‘I live within the “boundaries” of St. Mary’s since it is now the Cathedral and the Mother Church of the diocese.'”❓
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