The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today urge us to maintain our hope for fullness of life as we treat the ups and downs of our journey with patience.
Inspired with hope for the Future
The Letter of Paul to the Romans expresses hope in the Future Glory.
For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.1
Psalm 126 celebrates a Harvest of Joy. The Gospel of Luke shares the Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Parable of the Yeast.
Tom Shanahan, S.J. comments that the word “groaning” connotes deep and full experience of longing for engagement with and for something. In the Romans letter it seems to express something further and even deeper. He is sure that at some point in his life he groaned, but it is difficult to speculate about it because of its profundity.
However difficult to understand, St. Paul convinces me of how important it is to discover the working of God with us who seek to discover God interacting with us. I recall an incident that seems to shed some light on what Romans is getting at with the reference to groaning. I was asked to administer the Sacrament of the Sick to a friend’s brother. He was hospitalized and on his last days. He had not communicated verbally with me since I arrived at his bedside, but then somewhere in the midst of words and actions in the sacrament, he began to sob. It felt to me that it was coming at the depth of his soul. It was astonishing to hear. My sense was that the Holy Spirit was touching him at an incredibly profound level in his last hours. Clearly it was his experience, but it communicated itself to me on a deep level as well. I considered how privileged I was to be there in his presence as he experienced God’s love.2
Don Schwager quotes “The Word of God operates in us like leaven,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"The leaven is small in quantity, yet it immediately seizes the whole mass and quickly communicates its own properties to it. The Word of God operates in us in a similar manner. When it is admitted within us, it makes us holy and without blame. By pervading our mind and heart, it makes us spiritual. Paul says, 'Our whole body and spirit and soul may be kept blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ' (1 Thessalonians 5:23). The God of all clearly shows that the divine Word is poured out even into the depth of our understanding... We receive the rational and divine leaven in our mind. We understand that by this precious, holy and pure leaven, we may be found spiritually unleavened and have none of the wickedness of the world, but rather be pure, holy partakers of Christ."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 96)3
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 13:18-21 comments that even with our smallest effort, God can do amazing things. Think about how powerful just fifteen minutes of prayer a day can be. That’s only 1 percent of a twenty-four-hour day, but it’s amazing what can happen in those few short minutes. We can touch the very presence of God. Guilt over past sins can be wiped away as we encounter his mercy. Our hearts can soften with love for the people around you. We can even hear the Spirit speaking to us and opening the mysteries of Scripture to our heart! Now consider the effect all of this can have on our entire day: the peace, the guidance, the hope, the confidence.
Or from another angle, think about the impact that a one-hour lunch with a friend can make. During that time, you share a short story about something you learned in your prayer the day before. Or perhaps you mention some blessing God has given you. But that little story sits in your friend’s memory like a seed. It takes root and grows. And perhaps, over time, your friend begins to pray, to come back to Mass, or to ask you more questions. All from a simple lunch date! God can take any mustard seed-sized effort that you put into growing your faith and turn it into something surprisingly large and beautiful. Even just fifteen minutes a day can make a huge difference!4
Friar Jude Winkler shares insight about the readings today.
Richard Rohr, OFM, comments on the role of contemplation and action around the theme of Original Goodness in our Way of life. Our experience of hope under the inspiration of the Spirit empowers us as leaven to transform the world.
References
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