Gospel reading: Matthew 13.36-43
Then [Jesus] left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.’ He answered, ‘The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!’
Reflection
In Marianne Williamson’s oft-quoted words (including by Nelson Mandela in his Inauguration address):
You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same.
Marianne Williamson A Return to Love
In the parable of the weeds of the field, Jesus sows the good seed that grows up into “the righteous [who] will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” (Matthew 13.43)
In my back garden I prepare the soil as best I can, mixing in compost and manure. I sow the seeds and water the plants when needed. But I can only provide some of the conditions for growth. The plants need the sun and God gives the growth.
So it is on the human and spiritual journey. I prepare the soil of my psyche; sow seeds of eg Lectio; and water them in prayer. But it is God that provides the sunshine and the growth.
Sr Anne Julian CSMV, who died in 2014, used to say that God the great I am was making her into a little I am, to be a reflection and a mirror of God. And little by little we too are growing into that aspect of the image of God that God has created each of us to be. So that one day we too might shine like the sun in the Kingdom. And should it so happen before we die, then we too might share in the life and work of God, shining on others and giving them the light they need for growth.
But back down to earth and one thing at a time. A bean is not going to grow into purple sprouting broccoli, and a tomato seed is not going to produce globe artichokes. My task right now is to grow into and be myself. I cannot be anyone else, and no-one else can be that me. All the rest is up to God.
-oOo-
Since April 2020, I have been jointly hosting a shared Lectio Divina group on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings. These are my reflections only, during the prayer session and as I wrote them up. Please see my separate commentary and leaflet for more information about shared Lectio.
