Growing in Grace

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to reflect on the growth we have experienced in our walk by faith as companions of Jesus.

Path to Growth

In the reading from the Prophet Ezekiel, Israel is exalted at Last.

* [17:22–23] The Lord will undo the actions of the Babylonian king by rebuilding the Davidic dynasty so the nations realize that only Israel’s God can restore a people’s destiny. (Ezekiel, CHAPTER 17 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 92 is a thanksgiving for Vindication.

* [Psalm 92] A hymn of praise and thanks for God’s faithful deeds (Ps 92:2–5). The wicked, deluded by their prosperity (Ps 92:6–9), are punished (Ps 92:10), whereas the psalmist has already experienced God’s protection (Ps 92:11–15).

* [92:14] Planted: the just are likened to trees growing in the sacred precincts of the Temple, which is often seen as the source of life and fertility because of God’s presence, cf. Ps 36:9, 10; Ez 47:1–12. (Psalms, PSALM 92 | USCCB, n.d.)

The reading from the Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians presents our Future Destiny.

* [5:6–9] Tension between present and future is expressed by another spatial image, the metaphor of the country and its citizens. At present we are like citizens in exile or far away from home. The Lord is the distant homeland, believed in but unseen (2 Cor 5:7).

* [5:10] We must all appear: the verb is ambiguous: we are scheduled to “appear” for judgment, at which we will be “revealed” as we are (cf. 2 Cor 11; 2:14; 4:10–11). (2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus presents the Parable of the Growing Seed and the Parable of the Mustard Seed

* [4:26–29] Only Mark records the parable of the seed’s growth. Sower and harvester are the same. The emphasis is on the power of the seed to grow of itself without human intervention (Mk 4:27). Mysteriously it produces blade and ear and full grain (Mk 4:28). Thus the kingdom of God initiated by Jesus in proclaiming the word develops quietly yet powerfully until it is fully established by him at the final judgment (Mk 4:29); cf. Rev 14:15.

* [4:32] The universality of the kingdom of God is indicated here; cf. Ez 17:23; 31:6; Dn 4:17–19. (Mark, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

Andy Alexander, S.J. (2015) comments that We "walk by faith, not by sight" much of the time. That's why we call it "faith." Walking in "confidence" is walking "with faith." [Latin: confidere = to believe in] Today, for example, each of us can place our trust in God's presence with us, in the midst of the most difficult challenges.

We can say, "Lord, I know that you know more than I know or understand. I trust that you feel the pain I have and the pain that so many are carrying. I know you are sad about suffering. But, I place my trust in you, believing that you alone can redeem this mess with your love, mercy and grace. Knowing you are with me, gives me courage and hope. What I'm really asking you is to help me sense your presence with me and to believe. Like these readings help me to trust, that you have a power and a grace that we can't see or understand until we witness how you can give light, when we only see death. Please give me bold courage to sustain this faith and to witness it for others who need it from me. Then, like sun and rain and good soil, mercy and love will bring more life and growth than I can today imagine."

And, for some of us, this song, which often lifts up my heart, may help:
Chris Muglia's song "Our God Is Here" here performed by The Arch Street Band. (Alexander, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “God gave us what was most precious,” by Isaac of Nineveh (a Syrian monk, teacher, and bishop), 613-700 A.D.

"The sum of all is God, the Lord of all, who from love of his creatures has delivered his Son to death on the cross. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son for it. Not that he was unable to save us in another way, but in this way it was possible to show us his abundant love abundantly, namely, by bringing us near to him by the death of his Son. If he had anything more dear to him, he would have given it to us, in order that by it our race might be his. And out of his great love he did not even choose to urge our freedom by compulsion, though he was able to do so. But his aim was that we should come near to him by the love of our mind. And our Lord obeyed his Father out of love for us." (excerpt from ASCETICAL HOMILY 74.28) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 comments that Ruth was struggling with her teenage children. She loved them and prayed for them and set healthy boundaries for them, but their irritability and poor choices made her feel that she wasn’t doing enough. Some days she even wondered if she was failing as a parent.

Then one morning she read this verse from St. Paul during her prayer time: “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Think about a burden you are carrying today. Now, ponder today’s words from St. Paul: “We walk by faith, not by sight.” How is the Lord inviting you to view that situation by faith? Perhaps you could search out or recall Scripture passages that give you a renewed perspective. God has given you the gift of faith, and he is so pleased when you use it!

“Lord, open my eyes to see your presence and your faithfulness.” (Meditation on 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler notes that, in the passage from Ezekiel, God promises the restoration of Israel and an overturning of the way of things that resonates with the Magnificat. Surrender to the will of God is part of the dilemma faced by Paul concerning being with Christ in life or in afterlife as Paul ponders in this passage and in the Letter to the Philippians. Friar Jude reminds us that the Kingdom grows from a small seed to a great size, even overtaking all the garden as happens with the mustard plant. 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, affirms the benefits of psychological growth but urges us not to become stuck in individualistic worship of the self.

When psyche meets psyche there is usually insight, communion, expansion, or at least distraction. It feels alive and will always lead us to another level of revelation or confrontation. But sometimes there is no goal beyond the process itself or that elusive thing called healing. This sounds a bit hard perhaps, but the enduring philosophical traditions have never confused existence with essence as we do today. We attach enormous significance to passing feelings, hurts, and experiences, things which the great world religions have called illusion, temptation, trial, grace, opportunity, passion, or “shadow and disguise.” They are means, not ends; windows and doorways perhaps, but surely not the temple itself. 

At best, the search for understanding or sobriety or healing is seen as the early “purgative way,” but not yet the classic “illuminative” or “unitive” paths. In these, we less and less need explanations, success, or control. Healthy spirituality points us through ever-changing psyche to never-changing Spirit. The Mystery has shown itself. It’s okay. It’s enough. No one, including the self, needs be blamed, shamed, or worshiped. If that’s not the freedom of the children of God, what would it possibly be? (Rohr, n.d.)

We express gratitude to the Spirit for the guidance in our journey of growing in grace as members of the Body of Christ.

References

Alexander, A. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved June 16, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/061624.html 

Ezekiel, CHAPTER 17 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 16, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ezekiel/17?22 

Mark, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 16, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/4?26 

Meditation on 2 Corinthians 5:6-10. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 16, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/06/16/1001618/ 

Psalms, PSALM 92 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 16, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/92?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 16, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/only-the-beginning/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). What the Kingdom of God Is Like. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 16, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jun16 

2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 16, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/5?6 

Good Soil Good Fruit

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today set our expectation for living full lives in the experience and preparation of our predecessors in faith.

Preparing the Soil

The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah is an Invitation to Grace.

* [55:10–11] The efficacy of the word of God recalls 40:5, 8. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 55, n.d.)

Psalm 65 offers thanksgiving for Earth’s Bounty.

* [Psalm 65] The community, aware of its unworthiness (Ps 65:3–4), gives thanks for divine bounty (Ps 65:5), a bounty resulting from God’s creation victory (Ps 65:6–9). At God’s touch the earth comes alive with vegetation and flocks (Ps 65:10–13). (Psalms, PSALM 65, n.d.)

The reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans proclaims a destiny of Glory.

* [8:18–27] The glory that believers are destined to share with Christ far exceeds the sufferings of the present life. Paul considers the destiny of the created world to be linked with the future that belongs to the believers. As it shares in the penalty of corruption brought about by sin, so also will it share in the benefits of redemption and future glory that comprise the ultimate liberation of God’s people (Rom 8:19–22). After patient endurance in steadfast expectation, the full harvest of the Spirit’s presence will be realized. On earth believers enjoy the firstfruits, i.e., the Spirit, as a guarantee of the total liberation of their bodies from the influence of the rebellious old self (Rom 8:23). (Romans, CHAPTER 8, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew is the Parable of the Sower.

* [13:18–23] See Mk 4:14–20; Lk 8:11–15. In this explanation of the parable the emphasis is on the various types of soil on which the seed falls, i.e., on the dispositions with which the preaching of Jesus is received. The second and third types particularly are explained in such a way as to support the view held by many scholars that the explanation derives not from Jesus but from early Christian reflection upon apostasy from the faith that was the consequence of persecution and worldliness, respectively. Others, however, hold that the explanation may come basically from Jesus even though it was developed in the light of later Christian experience. The four types of persons envisaged are (1) those who never accept the word of the kingdom (Mt 13:19); (2) those who believe for a while but fall away because of persecution (Mt 13:20–21); (3) those who believe, but in whom the word is choked by worldly anxiety and the seduction of riches (Mt 13:22); (4) those who respond to the word and produce fruit abundantly (Mt 13:23). (Matthew, CHAPTER 13, n.d.)

Tamora Whitney comments that like the example of the seeds and the sower, not everyone who hears will listen. Not everyone who hears will understand. Some people hear the word, but they turn away and defile the land like the seeds choked by weeds.

But there are some who will hear, and listen, and understand. They are the good soil and the words of the Lord are the seeds that will bear good fruit. “The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower.” The very disciples who are confused about his methods are the ones who can benefit from them. They are listening carefully and understanding the deeper meanings too as well as the symbolism. With the parables, the disciples can understand the bigger context of Jesus’ words, and then help share that with others as well.

We need to be aware and be like the disciples who listen carefully and critically. Let these words fall on us like the seeds in the good rich soil that will bring forth good and plentiful fruit. (Whitney, 2023)

Don Schwager quotes “The shallow and rootless mind,” by Clement of Alexandria, 150-215 A.D.

"Let us look, as from a broader perspective, at what it means to be on the road. In a way, every road is hardened and foolish on account of the fact that it lies beneath everyone's feet. No kind of seed finds there enough depth of soil for a covering. Instead, it lies on the surface and is ready to be snatched up by the birds that come by. Therefore those who have in themselves a mind hardened and, as it were, packed tight do not receive the divine seed but become a well-trodden way for the unclean spirits. These are what is here meant by 'the birds of the heaven'" But 'heaven' we understand to mean this air, in which the spirits of wickedness move about, by whom, again, the good seed is snatched up and destroyed. Then what are those upon the rock? They are those people who do not take much care of the faith they have in themselves. They have not set their minds to understand the touchstone of the mystery [of being united with Christ]. The reverence these people have toward God is shallow and rootless. It is in times of ease and fair weather that they practice Christianity, when it involves none of the painful trials of winter. They will not preserve their faith in this way, if in times of tumultuous persecution their soul is not prepared for the struggle. (excerpt from FRAGMENT 168) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 13:1-23 comments that taking up Jesus’ call to bear fruit for his kingdom means making it the most important priority in our lives. He doesn’t want us to be like the seed among thorns and let other concerns distract us from his own concerns.

Today at Mass, ask yourself, How is Jesus calling me to bear fruit for his kingdom? How will I respond? Remember, you’re not on your own! Jesus is with you always, giving you the grace day by day to help you make his heavenly kingdom a reality, right where you are!

“Jesus, help me to understand how I can bear fruit for you.” (Meditation on Matthew 13:1-23, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler underlines the essential need for rain and snow to prevent famine for the Hebrews in a desert region. Paul contrasts the suffering and futility of the present time of the Romans with the restoration that is begun through the Spirit. Friar Jude reminds us of the connection of the parable of the sower to the Great Commandment to love God with our whole intellect, suffering, and possessions.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that the Exodus journey became an externalized and internalized journey, as true spirituality always is. It marked the beginnings of the creation of this people and the creation of a spirituality that includes both action and contemplation. Theologian Dwight Hopkins writes about what it has meant for Black Americans in poverty to read the Exodus story and discover a God who liberates.

The biblical stories of exodus feature an oppressed people (that is, the Hebrews) who suffered at the hands of brutal taskmasters; were accused falsely; were pursued by forces of prejudice; dwelled in the midst of a wilderness experience; went through periods of anxiety, fear, and doubt about the future, at times longing for a return to their former status in an inhuman system; and quarreled with their leaders while doggedly continuing along the way to freedom….  

Moreover, the African American poor, reading the Hebrew Scriptures from their position on the bottom of American society, discover a whole new world different from the dominating Christianity and theology of mainstream American believers. The exodus theme does not end with harsh difficulties. On the contrary, the hope of deliverance cancels out the pain and gives today’s poor the strength to “keep on keeping on.” [2] (Rohr, 2023)

Moving forward on our faith journey is helped by the nudges of the Spirit to prepare and transform.

References

Isaiah, CHAPTER 55. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 16, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/55?10 

Matthew, CHAPTER 13. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 16, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/13?1 

Meditation on Matthew 13:1-23. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 16, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/07/16/734615/ 

Psalms, PSALM 65. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 16, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/65?10 

Rohr, R. (2023, July 16). The Exodus Beginning — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC Daily Meditations 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-exodus-beginning-2023-07-16/ 

Romans, CHAPTER 8. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 16, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/8?18 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 16, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=jul16 

Whitney, T. (2023, July 15). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved July 16, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/071623.html