Time to grow

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary can be viewed on the surface as a review of some of the clichés of the Christian Believer. The struggle which the author of Hebrews reminds us we have gone through to be where we are in our relationship with God is not to be dismissed. Reflection on our spiritual path will deepen our hearing of the messages in these texts. Friar Jude Winkler comments on tribulation as an experience which accompanies our conversion and growth and which may be a ‘great tribulation’ in our future. The time frame of God is not our usual way of understanding time. One powerful distinction between humanity and God is that we live “in the time” as temporal beings who for the most part understand linear progression of events. We seek to be patient but we want that patience now! The longer view can be facilitated by considering the words of the Psalms. The praise and desire of Israel is not foreign to us. For thousands of years we have sought justice and deliverance from God who will uphold His faithful and rescue us from trials. The preparation of the person to be the faithful participant in the Covenant takes time. The Gospel of Mark according to some commentators is intended to be read aloud. The full experience of the message comes to us through hearing. The ancient Shema “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One” reminds us of the power in the Word which is the created reality in the Jewish mind. Mark presents Jesus to us in action and we are open to hear His teaching which requires us today to focus on the seed. The timing of the seed is both predictable and unpredictable. The farmer of the land of Jesus needed to be one who trusted in the unseen and believed that beyond his meagre efforts and willingness to distribute the seed, the growth would occur in the small percentage of ground that is “good soil” and that it would produce a miraculous and plainly visible yield of food, shelter and rest. We rejoice at the opportunity to go to the vineyard and labour so that the will of God can use us as faithful sowers.