I don't know about you, but I think it's a challenge to keep up with technology. Here's an email from a techy savvy daughter to her father.
Dear Dad, I am getting married soon! You know, I am in Australia, he lives in Scotland, but we met on a dating website, became friends on Facebook, had long chats on Whatsapp and he proposed on Skype. Dad, I need your blessing, good wishes and a big wedding, so get your checkbook ready. Love and thanks. Your favorite daughter, Lilly.
And here’s Dad's response: My Dear Lilly, Wow! I suggest you get married on Threads, have fun on Tango, buy kids on Amazon, and pay through PayPal. Love, Your Father. So much for technology.
The word of God takes us back to Second Isaiah in the sixth century before Jesus. The prophet is fascinated with the awesome grandeur of this universe. He proclaims that, just as winter snows and spring rain bring forth new life, so too does the word of God bring forth goodness.
Yes, God’s word is life-giving. We pray “Thy will be done” though at times God’s will seems obscure. Yet God’s word will achieve its purpose despite hindrances we place before it.
St. Paul urges the early Christian community in Rome to stay the course and keep their confidence in God. He goes on to say: just as labor pains bring forth a beautiful child, God ultimately will reveal his glory and splendor despite human tragedies.
Even when we may feel, to quote the poet William Butler Yeats: “Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; mere anarchy is loosed upon the world….” (The Second Coming.) One day we feel fine; the next day we face a severe disease. Paul challenges us to remember our ultimate purpose: eternal life with God.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to us about a sower and soil. The sower is God. See how generous God is. He spreads goodness everywhere. The seed is the word of God.
The different kinds of soil are different types of people. Some are like rocky ground: so shallow that when the going gets tough God is forgotten. Others are like thorny ground: so consumed by earthly cares they are unaware of their purpose.
Still others are like good soil: they hear God's word and do it.
Jesus asks us: Who are we in this? How do we cultivate the word of God?
We sometimes imagine that if we just do some weeding today, all will be smooth. But life is not like that. If we resolve one thing, other challenges are around the corner.
The temptation is to see this pattern as preventing us from doing the right thing now. Not so! Look at what so many people face, and do, around the world.
How do we cope? First, talk to God as you would with a good friend. Whatever situations you have, happy or sad, bring them to God in prayer.
Second, trust that God is in charge. Trust in God's unconditional love for us. “Faith,” C. S. Lewis wrote, “is the art of holding on to things...once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.”
Yes, it's sometimes hard to trust. Think, for example, about St. Paul. This leader was locked in jail, unable to share the “good news” that Jesus Christ lives, and because he lives, we live.
It must have been awful for Paul to try to see what good might come out of the trial of his life. Yet, as he wrote, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” Paul's imprisonment resulted in him being sent to Rome where he preached the gospel, precisely what he wanted to do. And through the centuries, vast numbers of people bearing hardships have been inspired by Paul's story.
You and I may never know how God uses our faithfulness to achieve his purposes. Perhaps our prayer can include: Lord, thank you for being with us as we carry on your work.
Use every opportunity God gives to do the right thing. Keep praying, keep trusting, keep looking. How about…forgiving those we don’t want to forgive; being compassionate to those we instinctively want to punish; making peace with those who have injured us; caring for those we know need us; loving when the last thing we want to do is love.
We have the potential to do great things. Begin with ordinary things. The word of God will inspire us to see Jesus more clearly in our lives, to love him more dearly and to follow him more nearly. Amen.
F
