The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast) - The Seeds of Indianapolis

Episode Date: July 26, 2024

You listen to Catholic podcasts. You go to conferences and retreats. You attend Bible studies at your parish. Now what? Jeff Cavins shares his experience at the National Eucharistic Congress and encourages everyone to share the fruits that they have been given by God. Listen to podcasts. Go to conferences. Attend Bible Studies. But do not stop there! It is time to evangelize. Snippet from the Show Do not let the fruits you have been given go to waste. Do not let God’s word wither in your life. Email us with comments or questions at [e-mail]. Text “jeffcavins” to 33-777 to subscribe and get Jeff’s shownotes delivered straight to your email! Or visit https://media.ascensionpress.com/?s=&page=2&category%5B0%5D=Ascension%20Podcasts&category%5B1%5D=The%20Jeff%20Cavins%20Show for full shownotes!

Welcome to the Jeff Kaven Show, where we talk about the Bible, discipleship, and evangelization, putting it all together in living as activated disciples. This is show 387, The Seeds of Indianapolis. Welcome to the show, just got back. Well, actually, a few days ago. back from the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. And man, that was a great experience. I hope you got to go. If you weren't able to go, you can watch a lot of the talks on EWTN video. You can find a lot of different ways of experiencing it. But man, for the people who experienced it, being there has a special grace all its own, kind of like, you know, you go to the Holy Land, you go to Rome. But it was set up so that people on the outside that couldn't make it to the conference, to the Congress, could participate.

And that was great. And getting back, I wanted to share with you a few of my insights, some of the things that, you know, I've been praying about and asking the Lord what he wants me to see and do at the Congress. And then maybe share just a little bit with you today here. Love to hear from you, by the way, you know, how the Congress changed your life, the thoughts it brought up, possibilities you never dreamt of before, you can write me at the Jeff Kaven show at ascensionpress.com. The Jeff Kavan Show at ascensionpress.com. And by the way, you can use that to write me about anything, you know, show ideas and all that. I want to participate.

I want you to participate, I should say, with everything that I'm doing here on the weekly podcast. Now, if you are not getting the notes for the shows, all you got to do is type my name in, one word, Jeff Kaven's. and you can text it to the number 3-3-777. That's 3-3-7-7. Very biblical. Okay, so I met up there with old friends, and I know that if you went, you probably yourself ran into relatives, friends that maybe in a city that you used to live in, you met up there, giant meet-up, and that was really, really incredible.

I got to spend a time with friends and colleagues that I don't normally get to spend a lot of time with, got to spend some time with Jonathan Rumi, who is my partner on the Daily Reflection on the Halo app. And so that was wonderful. I'm going to be doing a conference with Jonathan Rumi in Stubenville. And that's going to be on August 2nd. That's August 2nd. And I think, Scott Hahn's going to be there and others. And that's going to be a Hallow Summit at Stubinville. I'll also be at Stubinville to do some other work later on in the year. I'll remind you of that when we get to that and we need to bring it up right now. But one of the things that I noticed at the Eucharistic Congress, there's so many names for

it, Eucharistic Revival, Eucharistic Conference, Eucharistic Congress, there's a lot of different names. But you know what I'm talking about. It was literally like the Catholic Church took over downtown Indianapolis. Every restaurant, walkways, even churches in the area, we were everywhere. Catholics were everywhere, and it had this joyful air about it. The Congress did, and it was really interesting because you knew that you were in the presence of brothers and sisters who love the Lord, they love Our Lady, they love the church, and they had just such a great time. But I got to tell you, the final mass is what was, I think, the zenith for me, the final mass.

to be sitting in the Lucas oil field there where the Colts play was really incredible because as I looked out, there's like 55,000 people in the stands, and it's just so, it's so, such a sense of a family when you see that all together. And that was an incredible mass, and it was celebrated by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagler, and he is from the Philippines, and he's currently serving as, now I get this, and I know there's big names in the Catholic Church. He's currently serving as the pro-prefect for the section of evangelization, of DeCastory for Evangelization, formerly the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

I don't think he has to put that on his business card, but that's his background. That's his background there. So all together, I thought this was like heaven on earth without security searches. It was really, really good. Now, on to what I would like to share with you a little bit about what I got out of it. And, you know, looking back just a couple of days here to a reading that we had in the regular liturgical cycle, Matthew 13, 1 through 9, it's about seeds. I've been thinking about this. I have been, you know, meditating on this text that we heard a couple of days ago in light of the Eucharistic Congress.

And the key word is seeds, seeds. And this was something that was brought up in several talks in the Eucharistic Congress, that seeds, go, and you're a gift, and to give that gift to other people. It was the cardinal Luis Antonio Tagla from the Philippines who brought up this idea of being a gift in that the Eucharist is a gift, and we are a gift to other people. give ourselves away and we bring with us this gift of gifts the Eucharist and man if you I'm going to put a link to it I'll tell you what I'm going to put a link to it in the show notes that final message and it's one of my all-time favorites to be honest with you because he really challenged me

about being a gift and he brought up one analogy there that I thought was really interesting he said he talked about how you view other people do you but do you view your children as a gift or as a problem do you view your spouse as a gift or a problem and now that didn't hit me in a funny way because my wife's a problem she's not a problem but i thought about myself you know am i a problem or am i acting like a gift he went into so much on this that i'm i'm thinking about dedicating a whole show just on that homily and take it apart for you. So I believe I will do that. So I don't want to get into it too deeply here today. But the reading a couple of days ago was Matthew 13, 1 through 9. And I've been praying about the Congress and asking the Lord what he wants me to see, what he wants

me to do. And I want to share that with you here today. So Matthew 13, 1 through 9, let me just give this to you really quick. It says the last, and this was the last Wednesday, yeah, two days ago, the gospel reading it says on that day jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down and the whole crowd stood along the shore and he spoke to them at length in parables saying a sower went out to sow and as he sowed some seed fell on the path and the birds came and ate it up some fell on rocky ground where it had little soil, it sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots.

Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, but some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit, 100 or 60 or 30-fold. Whoever has ears ought to hear. So the theme that hit me in the Congress was, this idea of my life being a gift to other people and seeing other people as a gift and bringing with me the seed to plant in other people's lives, whether it be their thinking or planting this in their heart, in some way sharing the Word of God with other people, with other people.

And I think that that's really, really a powerful, a powerful command that the Lord Lord gives us. Now, in Indianapolis, lots of seeds were planted in Indianapolis. And we have seeds that were planted from the workshops. We have seeds that were planted from the mass and from worship and from adoration. All kinds of seeds were planted in Indianapolis. And the question is, what will happen to those seeds that are planted? And do you have some of it. Did you get some of it? And what are you going to do with it? And so I really feel that there is a challenge that must go out to those who attended or those who are watching those videos that you cannot stop with just watching it. You have to go. And you have to be a gift

to the world. You have to bring the word of God to the world, the Eucharist to the world. And that's the seed that has been entrusted to us. You know, if you are listening, today, which I assume you are, I always thought that was a silly question. If you're out there and listening, but if you are out there and listening, chances are, you've been listening to other shows and you've been listening to a lot of other content. Well, you're responsible. You are responsible for doing something with the seed because in the parable we learn when you read the whole chapter of Matthew 13 that the seeds are the word of God and it is it is crushed and it is it stops the power of the word of God in in what and depending on what soil it is planted in

we'll look at that here in a second but I have to tell you this in all my years of teaching the Bible one of the most common questions that I have received is why does the word of God sometimes work in my life and other times it seems to fail. Seems to fail. Now that's a question that I've heard many, many times, Jeff, I tried that. But in the kingdom of God, we do not judge ourselves on just the results. Our life is busy in planting seed and watering it, planting the word of God into people's lives or watering what has been planted before. And as Paul says, then God causes the increase. The increase is not my problem. My problem is sowing seed. My problem is watering the seed. God will take care of the rest. And so that's been a common question.

And that is a good question and one that Jesus addressed head on in Wednesday's gospel reading. the parable of the sower, in the parable Jesus talks about the sower sowing seed, which is the word of God, upon different kinds of soil. And the fruitfulness of the seed varies by the type of soil that it is sewn into. And the sower sows seed into basically three types of soil. And I want to look at those real quickly here. But first, let's do this. Let's take a break. And when you come back, we'll go into that. You're listening to the Jeff Cave in. show. I'm my name's Father Mike Schmitz. I want to let you know about an exciting announcement that could revolutionize the way you listen to the Bible in the air and the catechism in the year. Ascension has released a new Bible and catechism app called the Ascension app. No, here's what you get. In this app, you get the entire text of the Great Adventure Bible. Just incredible. You also get the entire text of the catechism of the Catholic Church, as long with the Catechism in a year podcast, and the Bible in year podcast, and transcripts for each episode. If you're like, I'm tired of listening to

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Welcome back. Good to have you back. Talking today about the seeds of Indianapolis, the seeds of Indianapolis, and all that people received, I believe with all my heart that over millions, I mean, it's in the millions of seeds that were planted. And by seeds, I mean, people heard the word of God. They heard teachings about it. They heard it exclaimed in mass. And they heard it in discussions with one another. And so the word of God, like a seed, has been planted in so many, many different ways in the Eucharistic Congress. And my question, and at the same time, my concern is that, yes, it was a high. And those are wonderful. And, you know, take it when you can really

bring that into your life and enjoy that from time to time. We really get to do that. But the question is, how do we extend this? How do we take the seed that we received and then start giving gift to other people? Sharing the good things of the Lord. with other people, the insights that you have, the things that made your heart go, ah, when you were at the at the Eucharistic Congress. And what are you going to do to protect the seed that you received and that vision for evangelization or whatever it might have been? And so this one danger is one danger that is explained in the gospel, in the whole chapter,

not just the readings on Wednesday, but one danger. is sowing the seed along a path. It's taking the seed, and what you're doing is you're just sewing it along a path, and a path is someplace where people walk and trample and so forth. So Jesus said, when anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart. This is what was sewn along the path. Don't let the enemy, my friend.

And don't let the enemy steal what you received in Indianapolis because God planted that seed. But how does it end up going away? Well, it says when anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. It is that we didn't understand what we heard or what we encountered. And so there's in some people's lives, there's this period of time where they hear they receive the seed, but they don't understand it. As a consequence, they probably don't do anything with it, and the enemy comes and he steals it.

Where was it? It was in their heart. That's where the seed was. And so this implies a successful implantation of the word of God and the individual's heart, but they're not understanding and they're leaving it, and it goes. it goes. And so we have to be very careful, you know, about the treasures that we received at something like a Eucharistic Congress, first one in over 80 years, which I believe God is saying something to us in America. So sewing seeds along a path. There's also sewing seeds

that fell on rocky ground. And where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up since they had no depth of soil. When the sun rose, the seed was scorched, and since there was no root, they withered away. They withered away. And Jesus tells us that this is the person who hears the word and receives it with joy, but then tribulation and persecution come on account of the word, and they fall away. They fall away. Why? Because of tribulation and persecution. But you were once joyful at Indianapolis. And is the enemy going to steal that joy and steal that seed that was planted? Well, we can't allow that to happen. And so when tribulation or persecution comes your way in the next week or two or three, stand strong. You know what it is. And you know that

the aim of tribulation and persecution is to put that word out. It's to stop the power of the word in your life. And one of the reasons that the word does not produce fruit is because of these tough times. They take your attention off of God. You begin to doubt. You start to think, well, maybe it's not true for me. It's true for others. And it withers. Persevere, my friend, in tough times. Don't lose the seed after leaving Indianapolis. Don't do that. And then Matthew goes on and says that some of the seed fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Jesus tells us that this is the person who hears the word, but allows the cares of the world and the delight in riches to choke the word, making it unfruitful. Wow. Now, that is very, very straightforward.

You know, the seeds that fell into your heart, you have to ask yourself, is it upon thorns? or is there a rocky ground or is it along the path? The seed fell upon thorns and the thorns grew up and choked. Jesus tells us that this is the person. This is the person who hears the word but allows the cares of the world and the delight in riches to choke out the word. So the two things you have to really be careful of after receiving the word at Indianapolis or for that matter anywhere could be this Sunday.

day at mass is that you have to stand against the cares of the world and you have to trust in the Lord, he will take care of you, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these other things that the Gentiles worry about will be added to you. What you eat, where you stay, clothing, God will take care of you. You don't have to lose the word of God because of your cares. But then there's also the desires for riches. I don't know anybody, actually. Maybe they would say they don't, but I don't know anybody that one want to have a lot of money in the bank just sitting there

and they can go on living life and they don't really have to worry about what they buy or eat or anything like that. That's kind of dreamland for most of us. But a lot of people are actually going after that is the goal in life. They will be happy once they have that pool of cash in the bank and forget about inflation. and just live. Well, you know what? That love for riches will take you off course.

It'll take you off course and it'll choke the word, making it unfruitful. My friend, do not let. Do not let cares. Do not let the desires for riches choke the word in your life, especially the seeds that were planted

in Indianapolis. So then third, there's the good soil. Sown on good soil, what is good soil? Good soil is the soil. that receives the Word of God, hearing it and understanding it, this is the seed that yields a crop. In one case, a hundredfold, in another 60 and another 30. Now, this third example is the recipe for success.

Here, understand, and do. Here, understand, and do. That's what we're called to do. And if you plant that seed in a good soil, in your heart, and you need. nourish it, then you are going to hear the Word of God. Number one, number two, you're going to understand the Word of God. And number three, because you heard it and understand, you know that now is the time you've got to get up and go and do what Jesus tells you to do. It's very, very important, you know. So today, I would encourage you, don't let God's word wither. Give a time to

take root in your life. Don't give up. Don't expect something over. overnight. Don't let the cares of the world and the love of riches choke it. It's not worth it. You will be disappointed. If you worry, if you worry about everything and you worry about the tribulation and you are so interested in making a lot of money, you're going to give up that word because you can't serve God and mammon money at the same time. Jesus said that. You can't do it. You can't do it. You know, you're just not that talented. And neither am I, not that talented. So be patient.

And I can encourage you, be patient and be faithful to what God is telling you. You will not be disappointed if you don't let other things interfere with what God wants to do in your life. Become good soil. And I can tell you, you know, a little bit of the story of the Bible timeline in developing that over the years, I was only 25 years old when I began to develop that. and I developed it in 48 hours, that chart. And it's been changed a little bit here and there,

but that's basically the chart that I developed way back in the 80s, 19, that is, 1980s. And then for years, I just held on to it and I studied with it. And it was my treasure. It was my help in studying the Bible, the Bible timeline chart that accompanies the great adventure and Bible in a year. So I think that the key there was that I had many opportunities along the way to worry about the cares of living, you know, and I had a lot of opportunities to worry about money or riches and so forth. But I praise God that by his grace, I was just able to stand in there and continue

to do what I was doing. And now we're moving in on about 40, 45 years, right around there. I have to look at the calendar. About 45 years, it has yielded much fruit. But I'll tell you what, I had times where I wanted to throw that project up in the air and publishers didn't want it and other people and this and that. So I just kept on going after it, that seed that God gave me, even if nobody else got it. And then I started working with Matt Pinto at Ascension.

and we put together a plan where I could tape the whole thing and we'd have workbooks and small groups and we ended up doing it and something took root and it grew and grew and grew into now it's the it's the top Bible study in America with the great adventure Bible being the best-selling Bible and that's that's the word of God that is what God gives us we know tenacity in our lives. So my encouragement to you is, you know, maybe God has called you to do something like he called me to do with the Bible timeline chart. Don't let go of it. You know, really ask other people about it that you can trust and pray with them, but protect that seed. The truths that you received, the ideas you come up with, your hopes and dreams, remember,

remember that you are a gift and God will see it through in your life. Plant the seed as a gift to other people. Don't put it on the shelf. Live it and share it. And remember whose seed you're planting. It's God's seed that he gave you. Let me pray for you. In the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit, Lord Jesus, we love you so much. I thank you, Lord, for my brother. I thank you for my sister. For those that went to Indianapolis, oh God, I pray that you would make the seed that you planted in them so evident. Lord, I pray that you would remember. remind them, like a hound of heaven, remind them of what you opened up for them. May they not forget it, but may they do what we are called to do when there's revelation,

and that is the obedience of faith. Lord, help us with the obedience of faith and not to let go of the seeds that you have given us. To you be all the glory, you are the Eucharist, you are the bread from heaven, you are everything. In the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. God bless you. I love you. Look forward to talking to you next week.