Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
The little becomes big. The dead thing becomes living. The hidden thing influences the rest. These mysterious truths underlie Jesus’ images of the Kingdom of God. What we hope for—a great plant, bread to eat, as examples—requires faith in the power of a tiny, dead seed and a hidden but active yeast. These seemingly insignificant elements have powers over which we have no control; they exist and operate by God’s design and grace. In fact, all life depends on these tiny, hidden actions that bring forth life and sustain creatures.
The Kingdom of God that Jesus inaugurated is like that seed and that yeast: it brings life and vitality to the world, but its power is hidden and beyond our control.
Jesus planted that seed of the Kingdom in our church, our community, and in my heart. But it is so tiny and hidden that we don’t realize it. It shows itself in faint inspirations to treat another with compassion, to express gratitude to God, and to sacrifice my selfish will. These signs of the Kingdom will disappear if we don’t consent to their suggestion and act on them. If we do, they will grow into ever-larger invitations to let Christ’s light shine in us and Christ’s life expand in us, pushing out all darkness and selfishness.
Reflection by Fr. Benedict Neenan, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections