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“Mustard Tree in the Mist”
photographer and date are unknown |
Readings for Tuesday of the
Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time [1]
Readings from the Jerusalem
Bible [2]
Readings and Commentary: [3]
Reading 1: Romans 8:18-25
Brothers and sisters:I consider that the
sufferings of this present time are as nothingcompared with the glory to be
revealed for us.For creation awaits with
eager expectationthe revelation of the
children of God;for creation was made subject
to futility,not of its own accord but
because of the one who subjected it,in hope that creation itselfwould be set free from
slavery to corruptionand share in the glorious
freedom of the children of God.We know that all creation is
groaning in labor pains even until now;and not only that, but we
ourselves,who have the firstfruits of
the Spirit,we also groan within
ourselvesas we wait for adoption, the
redemption of our bodies.For in hope we were saved.Now hope that sees for itself
is not hope.
For who hopes for what one
sees?But if we hope for what we do
not see, we wait with endurance. -------------------------------------------Commentary on Rom 8:18-25
“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 (Romans
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 first fruits, i.e., the
Spirit, as a guarantee of the total liberation of their bodies from the
influence of the rebellious old self (Romans 8:23).” [4]
CCC: Rom
8:18-23 280; Rom 8:18 1721; Rom 8:19-23 1046; Rom 8:20 400; Rom 8:21 1741; Rom 8:22 2630; Rom 8:23-24 2630; Rom 8:23 735
-------------------------------------------Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 126:1b-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6
R. (3a) The Lord has done marvels for us.
When the LORD brought back
the captives of Zion,we were like men dreaming.Then our mouth was filled
with laughter,and our tongue with
rejoicing.R. The Lord has done
marvels for us.
Then they said among the
nations,“The LORD has done great
things for them.”The LORD has done great
things for us;we are glad indeed.R. The Lord has done
marvels for us.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,like the torrents in the
southern desert.Those that sow in tearsshall reap rejoicing.R. The Lord has done
marvels for us.
Although they go forth
weeping,carrying the seed to be sown,They shall come back
rejoicing,carrying their sheaves.R. The Lord has done
marvels for us.
-------------------------------------------Commentary on Ps 126:1b-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6
Psalm
126 is a lament. In this short psalm, the singer rejoices at the return of
Israel following the Diaspora, the conquering of Israel and its enslavement. In
this hymn, the people remember the greatness of God as he restores their nation
and brings them back to their own land ("Although they go forth
weeping, carrying the seed to be sown, they shall come back rejoicing, carrying
their sheaves"). The sense is one of being overflowing with
thanksgiving.
-------------------------------------------Gospel: Luke 13:18-21
Jesus said, “What is the
Kingdom of God like?To what can I compare it?It is like a mustard seed
that a man took and planted in the garden.When it was fully grown, it
became a large bushand the birds of the sky
dwelt in its branches.”
Again he said, “To what shall
I compare the Kingdom of God?It is like yeast that a woman
tookand mixed in with three measures
of wheat flouruntil the whole batch of
dough was leavened.”-------------------------------------------Commentary on Lk 13:18-21
These
two parables describe the humble beginnings and the ultimate growth of the kingdom
of God presented through Jesus’ ministry. While they have parallel passages in
the gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark (Matthew 13:31-33 and Mark 4:30-32), they are
especially powerful for the Gentile population to which St. Luke ministers
because of the inclusive nature of the stories.
Our
Lord "with the parable of the mustard seed encourages them to have faith
and shows them that the Gospel preaching will spread in spite of everything.
The Lord's disciples were the weakest of men, but nevertheless, because of the
great power that was in them, the Gospel has been spread to every part of the
world” [5]
“The parable [of the mustard seed] is very brief, even though its magnetic
lines shoot outward in many directions at once, creating a “tree” of meanings
and associations that is a worthy doublet of the tree of the kingdom of which
it speaks. The essential meaning is as plain as it is profound: that the
authentic works of God always begin in a very small way; that the divine
Presence and actions, therefore, are most likely to be either overlooked as
nonexistent or scorned as insignificant; and, in conclusion, that for these
reasons the person truly searching for God and his kingdom must have not only a
great desire for them but also equally great patience in order to wait for the
full and incontrovertible development of God’s work in our midst.” [6]
CCC: Lk
13:20-21 2660
-------------------------------------------Reflection:
There is a comedic theatrical
device wherein the hero and/or heroine are facing a seemingly overwhelming
group of adversaries when suddenly the attackers stop and flee. The hero is surprised since defeat was
certain. Then the camera view pulls back
to reveal an even larger threat to the attackers (a huge number of
reinforcements, a monster [as in the case of Abbot and Costello, Lou was
frequently in this situation.]). The
viewer was generally surprised along with the hero when the attackers ran away
and then, when the supporting force was seen, everyone laughs because it was
not the hero his attackers fled, it was the unseen force supporting or behind
him or her.
We use this familiar movie
ploy to emphasize the underlying meaning contained in Jesus’ parables of the
mustard seed and the leaven. These
stories told the followers of Jesus that from that small group of faithful believers,
the Gospel would spread to every part of the world. But there is something even deeper. It spreads not because the disciples are
superhuman. Quite the contrary, they are
ordinary people; we might even call them average. Yet, when they are handed the Gospel of the
Lord, and Jesus gives them his authority and the Holy Spirit, it is as if there
were suddenly a host of reinforcements standing behind them. The enemies of the Word of God cannot stand
against that band of faithful followers, no matter how insignificant their
numbers may seem, or how weak they appear physically.
It is this very idea that
makes our pride in spreading the Word of God laughable. When we believe that what we accomplish in
the name of the Lord occurs because of our efforts, we are like Lou Costello
facing down a group of killers thinking he has intimidated them into running
away, when all along the huge giant behind him caused their flight.
Today we pray that we may be
like the leaven that continues the spread of the Gospel of the Lord but that we
never assume that we do so out of our strength.
May we look to the Lord for that strength today and allow the Holy
Spirit to guide us.
Pax
[1]
The photograph is “Mustard Tree in the Mist” photographer and date are unknown.
[2]
S.S. Commemoratio[3]
The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the
psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for
English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is
for private use only.
[4]
NAB footnote on Romans 8:18-25.
[5]
St. John Chrysostom, "Hom. on St. Matthew," 46.
[6] Fire of Mercy Heart of
the Word Volume II, Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA,
© 2003 p. 238.
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