Tag: <span>Kingdom of God</span>

June 13, 2021June 10, 2021

Mighty Cedar

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.

Today’s readings are all about the plantings of the Lord, which grow mighty and stand steadfast, providing shelter and shade to many.

In the second reading, St. Paul speaks about how those who remain steadfast in the Lord live in their bodies on earth as in exile, away from home; and how leaving our bodies will paradoxically bring us home.

So often, we believe that the Christian life is God challenging us to lift ourselves up by our bootstraps and reach the goals He has set out for us. But we see in today’s readings that in God’s eyes, the Christian life is He Himself tending the planting of His Kingdom in the willing soul, and bringing it to a mighty place of maturity and fruitfulness.

It is true that, as the Kingdom of God grows mightily within us, it remains subtle, and exiled as we are in our bodies, we may not always perceive its advance. We may become disheartened as the challenges of our circumstances and our own sinfulness overwhelm us, like the storm that frightened Jesus’ disciples (cf. Mk. 4:35-41). But today’s readings give us great hope: Imperceptible as it may be, the Kingdom of God within us is mighty, firm, reliable once we have lent ourselves to the great Gardener to cultivate it within us.

Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Ask Jesus to take over your spiritual growth, and overcome the lethargy and distraction that often fills your soul. Ask Him to make your spiritual strength depend on His action, not yours, and to provide His grace for you always to give Him your willing “yes.”

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January 29, 2021January 20, 2021

Farmer’s Bounty

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.

The addressees of the letter to the Hebrews were rather impressive. They joyfully endured the confiscation of their possessions, presumably in a moment of persecution, either from the Romans or from the Jewish authorities.

Imagine today’s Christians rejoicing in the confiscation of their property, aware that they had more lasting (eternal) possessions.

This portion of the first reading would suffice for a few days’ meditation. As Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Mt. 6:21) Is our hope, even as it pertains to our Christian faith, in worldly victory? Do our foundations shake when the powers that be in the world prove inimical to us and our beliefs?

Special indeed are those Christians whose treasure truly lies in eternity and who, while engaging actively in the world’s betterment on every level (including political), never attach their heart to victory in worldly spheres.

For such a Christian, as for those early Hebrew Christians, today’s psalm resonates:

“The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.”

“Commit to the LORD your way;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make justice dawn for you like the light;
bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.”

For such a person, the process that Jesus describes in today’s gospel is an ongoing phenomenon. Like a farmer sowing seed, such Christians give their lives to their vocation each day in utter simplicity, trusting that their gift will be the seed that the fertile ground–Divine Grace itself–will make grow disproportionately into fruits for the Kingdom of God.

Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Within the swirl of the world, ask Jesus to help you keep your perspective and your focus. Tell Him that you cannot keep your heart’s focus on eternity without His grace, and ask Him to infuse you with His Holy Spirit. Ask Him to make your harvest as fruitful as the farmer He had in mind when He spoke today’s parable.

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