When I read Paul’s opening line to the Romans in today’s first reading, “Brothers and sisters: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us,” I take some comfort in this. I am sure all of us are carrying crosses of one kind or another. Some crosses are heavier than others.
I do not believe anyone’s life is perfect. No doubt, everyone is undergoing some kind of suffering; if not you personally, then maybe someone in your family.
However, St. Paul encourages us to have hope “as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.” “We hope, for what we do not see, and we wait with endurance.”
Jesus, in the Gospel today, tells us of the Kingdom of God, likening it to a mustard seed, tiny at first but gigantic when fully grown. Or to yeast, also tiny, but when mixed with measures of flour, makes the entire dough rise giving it height and breadth, making it airy and delicious, instead of hard as a rock.
I like to bake and have had the misfortune of a loaf of bread not rising properly, because I had not mixed the yeast with the flour correctly. I have since realized that yeast needs to be blended with warm water, not hot water, and not cold water. And through one notable failure, I ended up with what looked like a hockey puck!
Do Small Things with Love
We can be the mustard seed in the garden where we are planted, wherever that may be. We can reside in a big city, or in a rural farming community. The location does not matter. What matters is that we become the yeast in our own family and in our community. One does not need to have a pulpit, or a megaphone, to make an impact.
Mother Theresa often said “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
Quietly going about our business, sowing seeds of joy and encouragement with everyone we meet, is doing God’s work of building up the Kingdom of God. We can be small and insignificant but through our small actions of great love, we can help leaven the entire dough of our community and make it joyful, often inspiring others to do likewise. It is very likely that in many instances, we may never see the full effects that our actions have on others. Our loving acts of charity, by which we share our faith, will affect people far more than we realize. We might become aware of the fruits of our labor only in the afterlife.
Therein, lies our commandment for today. Do not get discouraged if your efforts do not bear abundantly obvious fruit. Simply commit yourself to the planting, over and over. Take delight in sowing the seed of faith and see this as your mission. If you do this throughout your life, from Heaven you will look back and be amazed at how God powerfully brought forth His Kingdom through those seemingly insignificant acts of faith and love.
This is a wonderful reflection. It is so true that quite often we do not see the ripple effect of our faithfulness. Nor should we, lest we be tempted to pride. After all, it is His work through us that is causing the ripples.
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing.