“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
Daily Reflections
Tuesday, 31st October 2017,
Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Rom 8: 18-25;
Ps 125: 1-6 (R) 3;
Lk 13: 18-21.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN US
Today, Jesus gives us a discourse on the Kingdom of God. What is it like? Through the parables of the mustard seed and the yeast, Jesus describes the Kingdom of God as tiny and small like the yeast or the mustard seed. It seems insignificant, its operation invisible, hidden. Yet, it is not lifeless, on the contrary is very dynamic and active. It grows into a mighty tree, a life giving Bread. The Yeast too, so small in size and yet has such a powerful effect upon the dough. The yeast works slowly and somewhat miraculously. Little by little the dough rises and is transformed. This is the ideal way for the Gospel to work in our lives.
The Kingdom of God is first and foremost alive in our hearts. The conversion of our hearts will rarely effectively take place in a day or in a moment. Sure, each day and every moment is important, and there are certainly powerful moments of conversion we can all point to. But conversion of heart is more like the yeast causing the dough to rise. The conversion of heart is usually something that takes place little by little and step by step. We allow the Holy Spirit to take control of our lives in a continually deepening way and, as we do, we grow deeper and deeper in holiness just as dough rises slowly but surely.
The seed, the yeast is also “Salvation in Jesus Christ”, it is the encounter with Jesus, each human being desires for and hopes for. Paul in letter to the Romans, says that salvation is invisible (like the kingdom of God), yet it is something, the whole of creation groans for, hopes for. The earth which accepts the seed, the dough which receives the yeast is our very own being. The invisible working is the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 8:23), which sets us free from our boundaries, to grow limitlessly. Just like the big tree, and the bread; our unconditional surrender to Jesus and steady hope in Him, will make us useful for God and life giving for others.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I do desire to become holy. I desire to be transformed little by little every day. Help me to allow You to change me every moment of my life so that I can continually walk the path You have laid out for me. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.
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