Allocution by S.E.R. Cardinal Juan de la Caridad García

Thanks to those who make this radio broadcast possible on Sunday, July 12, the fifteenth Sunday of the liturgical season.

In all the Catholic churches of the world this fragment of the gospel according to Saint Matthew, chapter 13, verses 1 to 23, is read.

…

The seed is one thing and the ground where it falls is another.

The seed in this biblical text is the Word of God, a very good seed. It is love, peace, it makes us grow in the mission we have as husbands, fathers, children, grandchildren, grandparents, friends, servants, workers.

Now it falls into our hearts. If our heart is full of weeds and marabou, that grass must be pulled out.

If there is hatred, revenge, contempt for family, alcohol, drugs, theft, the seed cannot bear fruit. But if we brush off the bad and clean our hearts, the seed will grow and fill us with happiness.

If our heart has stones and is not moved, nor is it interested in what God tells us, what our parents, grandparents, true friends tell us, the seed in our heart dies.

The heart must listen, reflect, know, accept the truth even if it hurts us and the seed will bear fruit.

If our heart has as its main concern money, the elegance of the body, good dressing, the best eating until gluttony, standing out by crushing others, all this seed is drowned, family love, being and fighting together is drowned. , caring about everyone’s happiness.

You always have to sow the Word of God and what God says in the book of the prophet Isaiah, chapter 55, verses 10 to 11, will result.

This is what the Lord says:

As the rain and snow come down from the sky and do not return there, after soaking the earth, fertilizing it and making it germinate so that it gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so will my word that comes out of my mouth be, it will not return to me. empty, but will do my will and fulfill my commission.

Lord’s word…. Glory to You, Lord Jesus.

Father Antonio Rodríguez has never planted a mango seed in his life. And he has eaten thousands of mangoes, thousands of smoothies, and mango juices and sweets. And he doesn’t know the people who planted these mango trees.

Let us sow faith, hope, love, honesty, family harmony, education, the Word of God and it will bear much fruit in people, in those families, in those churches and towns even after our death.

Maybe they will never find out that it was us who sowed but they are enjoying the sowing and God does know what we did sowing with tears.

Nobody knows where a crop can go.

(Song)

Once there were three small trees on the top of a mountain, together they thought about what they wanted to become when they grew up.

The first little tree looked towards the stars and said: “I want to store treasures. I want to be filled with gold and filled with precious stones. “I will be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!”

The second little tree looked at a small stream making its way to the ocean and said: “I want to travel through fearsome waters and carry powerful kings on me. I will be the most important ship in the world!

The third tree looked down into the valley below the mountain and saw men and women working in a working town and said: “I never want to leave the top of the mountain. I want to grow so tall that when the townspeople stop to look at me, they look up to heaven and think of God. “I will be the tallest tree in the world!”

The years passed and the small trees became majestic cedars. One day, three woodcutters climbed to the top of the mountain. The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, “What a beautiful tree!” and with the swing of his shining ax the first tree fell. “Now you must turn me into a beautiful trunk, I must contain wonderful treasures!” said the first tree.

The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, “This tree is very strong, it is perfect for me.” And with the swing of his shining axe, the second tree fell. “Now I will have to navigate immense seas!” thought the second tree, “I will have to be the most important ship for the most powerful kings on earth.”

The third tree felt its heart sink with sorrow when the last woodcutter looked at it. The tree stood straight and tall, pointing to the sky. But the woodcutter didn’t even look up and said. “Any tree is good for me.” And with the swing of his shining axe, the third tree fell.

The first tree was excited when the woodcutter took it to a carpentry shop. But the carpenter turned it into a mere manger to feed the beasts. That beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor did it store treasures, but it was used to lay grass.

The second tree smiled when the woodcutter carried it near a pier. But it was not by the sea, but on a lake. There were no kings, but poor fishermen. Instead of his dreams, the tree was cut down and turned into a simple fishing boat, too small and weak to navigate the ocean.

The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut it down to make strong boards and abandoned it in a lumber yard. “What is happening?” was what the tree asked itself, “all I wanted was to stay on the top of the mountain and point to God…”

Many days and nights passed. The three trees had almost forgotten their dreams.

But one night, a golden starlight shone on the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn son in the food box. “I wish I could have made a crib for the baby,” her husband told the woman: the mother squeezed her husband’s hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the soft, strong wood of the crib. And the woman said, “This manger is beautiful.” And suddenly, the first tree knew that it contained the greatest treasure in the world, the Son of God made into a child.

One afternoon, a tired traveler and his friends got into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep while the second tree sailed calmly into the lake. Suddenly, an impressive and terrifying storm came to the lake, the small tree was filled with fear, he knew that he did not have the strength to carry all those passengers to the shore safely with that wind and rain. The tired traveler stood up, and raising his hand said: “Calm down.” The storm stopped as quickly as it started. And suddenly the second tree knew that it was sailing with the King of Heaven and Earth, Jesus Christ.

One Friday morning the third tree was surprised when its boards were taken from that forgotten lumber yard. He was frightened by being carried on the back of a very battered man, through an impressive crowd of angry people. He was filled with fear when some soldiers nailed the man’s hands to his wood. It felt ugly, rough and wicked.

But on Sunday morning, when the sun shone and the earth trembled with joy beneath its blood-stained wood, the third tree knew that God’s love had changed everything, that the crucified one had risen.

This made the tree feel strong, and it made it certain that every time people thought about the third tree, they would think about God. That was much better than being the tallest tree in the world.

You are a tree. Prepare for the mission that God entrusts you.

(Song)

Next July 16 we celebrate the feast of the Virgin of Carmen. We congratulate all the people who bear the name of Carmen and all the communities whose Patroness is the Virgin of Carmen.

If you want us to send a congratulation to people who have the name Carmen as their first or middle name, call 78624000 and tell us their first and last names.

Santa María del Carmen, who carried Jesus Christ in your womb,

you carried him, you taught him the Word of God, and of your own Son

you learned to fully live this Word,

teach us to preserve and meditate on the Gospel of your Son.

Santa María del Carmen, who made yourself present on Mount Carmel,

where the Prophet Elijah lived, and you were refuge and strength

for those in Community who wanted to follow your Son,

Help us today to live as a family like You, Joseph and Jesus

and to those of us who call ourselves Christians, join us

to have one heart and one soul.

Santa María del Carmen that from the top of your Church you protect and pray for Havana

Pray for us so that we may praise God in your temples,

Let us serve the sick and most needy,

and educate in faith, hope and charity,

to the smallest of the family.

Santa María del Carmen, we want to clothe ourselves with your scapular and your love,

to, at the end of our lives, hear from the lips of Christ:

“Come, blessed of my Father, and take possession of the Kingdom prepared for you,

because I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink;

I was a stranger and you welcomed me; I went without clothes and you clothed me;

sick and in prison and you visited me.”

Santa María del Carmen, look with love at the priests, nuns and religious

who profess Carmelite spirituality

and pray to the Holy Spirit to raise up many workers of the Gospel in Cuba

in the style of the Carmelite saints.

Santa María del Carmen, remember that you are Mother of sailors,

of those called Carmen, remember how many worship you in this temple

and also remember our dead;

Stand next to these children of yours, as you stood at the foot of the Cross of your Son,

and present to God the Father all our supplications,

now that you are in the glory of heaven with your Son Jesus Christ who lives and reigns

forever and ever. Amen.

We join Christ spiritually:

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, intoxicate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, comfort me.
Oh, good Jesus! Hear me.
Inside your wounds, hide me.
Don’t let me separate from You.
From the enemy, defend me.
At the hour of my death, call me.
And command me to come to You.
So that with your saints I may praise you.
Forever and ever. Amen.

May the blessing of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit descend upon all people who bear the name Carmen and remain forever. Amen.

(Song)