Tuesday of Week 30 in Ordinary Time (Year II)
Ephesians 5:21-33 | Psalm 127:1-5 | Luke 13:18-21
The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed which a man took and threw into his garden: it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air sheltered in its branches. (Luke 13:19)
It’s remarkable how a translation’s choice of words can send one’s mind in a specific direction. Today, for me, that word is “threw”. It sounds so casual, so indifferent.
Is that how we are called to treat the “seed” to the kingdom of God that is His Holy Word, to cast it aside in neglect?
I think not. I think it’s an indication of just how resilient the Word of God is, how it continues to inspire piety and faithfulness despite the frailties and peccadilloes of we who were called to the faith, despite the reluctance and guilt of we who are called to sow (not throw) the seed.
See, secular interests are like last year’s pop songs. They may have made a great impact on us, particularly romantic ballads at wedding feasts, but give it a few years, and we’ll forget the words, forget the tune, perhaps even forget that the songs existed.
But the Word of God, translated into thousand-year-old words, still invades our minds every day, even outside the confines of Holy Mass.
Think someone’s spending too much time on themselves? “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” (Ecclesiastus 1:2)
Annoyed that someone’s being unfairly critical? “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” (Matthew 7:1)
Trying to get someone to work with you? “Two are better than one.” (Ecclesiastus 4:9)
Trying to excuse your lack of commitment to daily exercise and/or prayer? “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)
Having a really bad day? Pretty much everyone knows Psalm 23, and more still could quote John 3:16.
Getting annoyed by that guy who keeps dropping Bible references to what you thought were secular sentiments? Relax, you’re just getting spiritually rickrolled. As the British Government of 1939 reminded its citizens, Keep Calm and
Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
Now, let us cry for help to the Lord, as we do whenever we need somebody, for we strong, strong men aren’t too proud to beg Him to take us to His heart and hold us in His loving arms. He has promised that he would never give up on the ones He loves, so we should not give up on His love, and continue to sing His praises, confident that all the angels and saints are on our side, and that we will be reunited with Him in heaven forever.
Lord, You know that when things don’t go our way,
we’ll give you up,
we’ll let you down,
we’ll desert You,
we’ll lie, cheat and steal,
we’ll hurt You.
Lord, we beseech You, do not hold all that against us, for our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak. Give us the strength to rise above our weaknesses, to do what is right in Your sight, to offer each day to You a simple sacrifice of our thoughts, our words, our deeds.
For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, now and for ever. Amen.