Today's Thoughts...

Today’s Thoughts: My reflections this morning are going to be on the short side as I am in the midst of traveling to South Bend. In our Gospel reading from Matthew today we encounter three little parables.
 
In the first parable Jesus uses a planting story, similar to the parable last Sunday, to tell the crowd that he plants good seeds. His field is the world, the good seed represents the children of the Kingdom and the weeds are the children of the Evil One, which are sown by the enemy the devil. Some people don’t want to believe that the fires of hell exist, but Jesus says “the Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth…Whoever has ears ought to hear.” (Matthew 13: 41-43)
 
Jesus is using a paradox to explain the reality of our life. There is good and evil. We sometimes encounter both of them throughout our journey through life. Trying to eliminate evil is a difficult task because in doing so we might also eliminate the good. So like God, we have to be patient. The final judgment will be the moment when evil is eliminated until then we must live in the hope of the presence of the good in life.
 
That is were our second two parables come into play. The mustard seeds and the yeast are small and perhaps insignificant yet when planted and used they have a profound affect. From small things good can come, in other words the presence of God does not have to be something great and powerful to be affective. If we allow God to work in our life great things can happen!
 
Our readings today remind us of the reality of life and that hope is often found in the little insignificant experiences of life. Let us always remember the seed is the Word of God, the Grace of God and that Jesus is the sower; all who come to him will live forever!
 
Have a great Sunday everyone and don’t forget to give God a little time today.