by Sister Renee Delvaux
In Sunday's scripture, Psalm 86 proclaims that the Lord is always good and forgiving, merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. This applies well to today’s three parables in the Gospel of Matthew (13:24-43).
Look at the patience, love and forgiveness shown by God:
God’s love and forgiveness are freely given and cannot be earned. How can we respond to such an incredible loving God who is always abounding in kindness? Our humble response can be an openness and gratitude to God, and in turn, reaching out to others with the same love, mercy and forgiveness.
Beautifully Done, Sister!
Thanks for sharing..
Father Bill Jacobs
Love the analogy of the Spirit as the yeast in our lives helping us to expand by love!
I hear something a little different, and I realize that, in my lifetime, my understanding of each of these stories and its meaning, have changed - or developed - or grew (just as the images in each story tell us, as life goes on ...). But I definitely see that both JESUS - and his listeners - were trying to convey and to grasp something of how and why and from whence, evil comes, when only good seed was sown by God. So we begin to hear how 'sneaky' evil really is. After all, all good seed had been sown, but then as everyone 'sleeps - ' is unaware, unconscious, or not paying attention - an 'enemy' sneaks in to sow its own brand of chaos, violence, oppression, and assault against all the innocent living. "How can this ever be corrected?" seems to be the haunting question.
Then the yeast: it takes a very skilled woman to know how to make the dough 'just right' so that it will rise and grown to make to an abundance of good, life-giving food to feed others.
The mustard seed: this is a 'wild-growing' plant. It cannot be contained. It grows where, and as, it will. JESUS says, "this, too, is what the kingdom of heaven (God's Life/Love/Presence) is like."
Wonderful analogies thank you for reaffirming God's mercy and love.
Love it! Thank you!
Thanks, Renee, for your insightful reflection.