The Gospel for WEDNESDAY, May 18, 2005
Luke 13:18-30
He went on to say, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it with? It is like a mustard seed which a man took and threw into his garden: it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air sheltered in its branches.’ Again he said, ‘What shall I compare the kingdom of God with? It is like the yeast a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour till it was leavened all through.’ Through towns and villages he went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, ‘Sir, will there be only a few saved?’ He said to them, ‘Try your hardest to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed. ‘Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself standing outside knocking on the door, saying, “Lord, open to us,” but he will answer, “I do not know where you come from.” Then you will start saying, “We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets,” but he will reply, “I do not know where you come from; away from me, all evil doers!” ‘Then there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrown out. And people from east and west, from north and south, will come and sit down at the feast in the kingdom of God. ‘Look, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.’ -- The New Jerusalem Bible. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1995, c1985
Micro to Mega
From the tiniest mustardseed grows a very large plant into which all nations are gathered. From the tiniest bit of leaven, working inside, God's creativity generates whole creatures.
A Reflection
Agonizomai. That's the Greek word the writers attributed to Jesus. It's the root of our word "agonize." It can be translated "to struggle, with difficulties and dangers."
We face difficulties routinely. How we deal with them is what makes us disciples of Jesus. Do we always take the easy way? Do we try to find the shortcut through the race course, so that we can "win"? Those are the opposites of agonizing through difficulties and dangers.
Standing up to power with truth, knowing that there is likely an adverse outcome, is how we agonize through difficulties and dangers. Giving away our lunch money to the beggar who will, in all likelihood, have it converted into a cheap bottle of wine within the quarter-hour: that is agonizing through difficulty. Showing faith in a downtrodden man for the thousandth time may be the feather's push that turns him around.
Do I want to be the corporate executive riding around in limousines and private jets while flying over children who won't eat that day? There's no agony in that question unless I am the executive and let the thought of those thin, dirty faces into my conscience.
Do I treat the Earth as a gift from God, given to me briefly to steward and care for, or do I trash our little planet? Do I banish the thought of those in nursing homes from my mind, saying that the place smell bads, and I'll be late for church if I stop in to see Uncle Fred?
We love our good children and we love our rotten children, the ones who know better and don't live up to the standards we've shown all during their growing years. We love them both the same. But the one who agonizes with difficulty makes us smile, while the one who wrecks mom's car -- and laughs about it -- brings us only tears and shame.
All will come to the feast, as Jesus says. Some will come smiling and laughing, others with tears of shame and fear. We all have the capability to plant the mustardseed, to introduce the leaven of love and forgiveness. We are called to show our siblings in the Lord how Jesus would have us be. And we can all be first in line at the banquet.
A Collect
Father, from the mustardseed of our faith you create out of us a magnificent tree in which all your children are welcome.
9:08:43 PM 
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