The season of Advent urges us to prepare not only for the Lord’s birth, but also for his return in glory. May these coming weeks help us to meet the Lord on Christmas day and make us ready for the hour when we are called from this life to the next.
The Lord offers us (once again!) practical spiritual wisdom to guide our interactions with one another. But to use this wisdom we have to ask ourselves one question: What’s growing in our hearts?
Both Isaiah and Matthew’s Gospel reference the power of fasting in the life of faith, inviting us to consider how we may incorporate this powerful spiritual practice into our lives today.
The parable of the sower is one of the few that Jesus explains. As we listen today, may we cultivate good soil in our hearts to receive the Lord’s words and tend a fruitful harvest.
What’s growing in the spiritual garden of our hearts? The Letter of James urges us to welcome the Word of God that was planted in us and become doers, not just hearers.
Here are some of the key themes in the readings for the 22nd Sunday of the Year.
1st Reading – Deuteronomy 4:1-2,6-8
The Commandments of the Lord are sacred; take care not to add or subtract from them.
These commandments are to be carefully observed.
Psalm – 15:2-5
“The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.”
These stanzas exhort the people to live in a virtuous and upright manner.
2nd Reading – James 1:17-18,21b-22,27
God’s “word of truth” is planted in our hearts and must be welcomed and strengthened.
We are reminded to “be doers of the word and not hearers only” as we care for those less fortunate.
Gospel – Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23
Jesus responds to comments from the Pharisees and scribes about specific traditions.
The Lord offers a practical insight about what makes us unclean: “Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.”
As we continue to hear the “Bread of Life” discourse from the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, we reflect on how our spiritual health is renewed by the frequent and worthy reception of Holy Communion. We are what we eat!
Several powerful themes surface in the readings this week.
1st Reading – The Lord is the source of justice
Psalm – “Lord, you are good and forgiving.”
2nd Reading – The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness
Gospel – Jesus offers several parables; two of them are about weeds and seeds
A common pattern emerges from these themes as we discover that in the midst of injustice, sin, weakness and evil the Lord comes with justice, forgiveness, strength and power. Simply put, God gives us grace to confront the weeds in our lives.
So that begs the question: Where are the weeds in our hearts today? What struggle are we facing that requires the Lord’s mercy and love? Perhaps we might step back and pause this week to reflect on the state of our soul, so that we can honestly assess what is growing and what needs to go.
Jesus Christ knows our hearts and loves us unconditionally. As we look at the garden of our hearts may we trust that the one who knows us completely will help us root out what does not belong and help us grow as Sons and Daughters of God.
Three Great Things 