And who are you?

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary reveal a challenge which the faithful encounter as they act to make the way of God visible in society. The commission of God to Jeremiah to warn the people of Judah that their life choices were leading to the destruction of Jerusalem was met with a death threat as presented in the passage from the book of Jeremiah. The psalmist proclaims how the zeal he has expressed for God through his religious practice is met with derision and ridicule. The Gospel of Matthew reveals the response of those who knew of Jesus family and origins to His messages and actions in His mission. We are perhaps torn by this response to the Good News. What is the use of trying? The great action in the kingdom to change and bring a new viewpoint on life through a living relationship with God is that of small and determined persistence. The parables of the mustard seed and the leaven are instructions about the marvellous consequence of staying the course. The assessment of our lives that we are just regular folk is troubling if we accept it. We have experienced the treasure of great value. Our consistent modelling of life thankful for all we have received in the delight of a gracious God will infect the world with the desire to accept the invitation to the kingdom.