Deacon Ned Berghausen Holy Family Catholic Church July 22/23, 2023 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072323.cfm [Modified Gospel Reading: short form with mustard seed parable from long form] Good evening. I’m Ned Berghausen, a permanent deacon at St. Agnes Catholic Church. Thank you, Fr. George and Holy Family parishioners, for welcoming me, Fr. Dismas, and members of the St. X class of 1998 to your Saturday night liturgy. Tonight, my St. X High School class of is celebrating our 25 th anniversary of graduation. Many of my classmates are here with their families before heading down to the other end of Poplar Level to celebrate. This homily will be addressed to everyone in this assembly. The Bible is a strange book. It contains a wild patchwork of genres mashed together. Amidst the narratives, poetry, law codes, and myths, is one type of text a reader might not expect to encounter in Holy Scripture: very specific instructions on farming,