Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
Ephesians 5:21-33
Brothers and sisters:
Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.
For the husband is head of his wife
just as Christ is head of the Church,
he himself the savior of the Body.
As the Church is subordinate to Christ,
so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ loved the Church
and handed himself over for her to sanctify her,
cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,
that he might present to himself the Church in splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish.
So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
For no one hates his own flesh
but rather nourishes and cherishes it,
even as Christ does the Church,
because we are members of his Body.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
This is a great mystery,
but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church.
In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself,
and the wife should respect her husband.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
R. (1a) Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Alleluia
See Matthew 11:25
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
You have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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 bush
and 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 took
and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”
Meditation
Beloved in the Lord, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ abound in each of our lives.
Today’s Gospel is a message of hope: a tiny mustard seed that will grow into a tree. Jesus invites us not to despise small beginnings. But He also shows us that between the seed and the tree, there is a period of growth. The seed must germinate and grow before it becomes a tree. This is an exhortation to us in our relationship with ourselves and with others.
1. Accepting That We Cannot Change Overnight
For most people, change, conversion, and growth take time. We should therefore not become discouraged if we are unable to overcome a bad habit after some time, or even after several years. Some seeds germinate quickly and produce trees that grow very fast. Others need a long time to germinate and then grow rapidly. Still others germinate quickly but grow slowly. We may therefore feel that we are bearing no fruit and achieving no results despite our efforts, when in fact God is working within us and helping the seed grow.
2. What Should We Do During This Period of Growth?
During this period of growth, which may sometimes seem fruitless, we must continue to water the seed, nourish the plant, and provide it with the conditions it needs to grow. If we fail to do so, if we stop making an effort and working with perseverance, the plant may die without ever bearing fruit.
How many beautiful trees in our lives have failed to reach maturity because we gave up too soon!
We grew tired of praying, tired of working on self-control, tired of reading the Bible, developing a project, or building a relationship. Beloved, let us not become discouraged when results are slow to come. Let us continue to do our part and allow God to accomplish His work.
3. Accepting the Growth Process of Others as Well
In our relationships with our brothers and sisters, we often lack patience. We want them to listen to us and do what we ask immediately. We want them to change, grow, and experience conversion quickly. But we forget that it takes time and abundant grace for the seeds sown in the hearts of our children, loved ones, and friends to grow.
We must therefore accept that others also need time to change. Let us never become discouraged from continuing to water, through prayer, love, gentleness, and patience, those seeds that are slow to germinate.
Let us turn our attention back to ourselves. What is our attitude towards the apparent fruitlessness of our spiritual lives and those of others? Do we know how to wait patiently in hope?
Let Us Pray
Lord, grant us the grace of patience and help us remain hopeful and faithful during times of growth. Teach us to persevere, even when we cannot yet see the fruits of our efforts. Amen.
Intercession
Lord, we pray for all parents whose children display difficult behaviour. Give them the strength and patience to continue sowing seeds in their children’s lives, to guide them with love, and to remain hopeful.
Mother Mary, intercede for us!
Spiritual Exercise
Today, let us show patience and love towards ourselves and others. Let us take one concrete action to help a seed of love grow in our lives.
Praised be Jesus Christ forever!
Flora KAMTA (Community of the Disciples of the Living Christ)
