31 January 2020 - start small

Today's Readings

(Audio)

Of its own accord the land yields fruit,
first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

The Kingdom grows within us as long as we welcome it with good soil. The degree that we are open and receptive to the Spirit is the degree to which we bear fruit. Faith is required, because the fruit is not immediate. Neither is the growth obvious. Indeed, the Holy Spirit nurtures his gifts inside of us long before they crack the surface. They begin to mark our actions before our awareness. And the point is this: We don't need to despair when we don't see growth. We don't need to keep changing plans desperately until something obvious happens. We do need to keep the soil of our hearts free from things hostile to growth and to water it with our life of prayer and with the word of God. 

But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants
and puts forth large branches,
so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.

Big dramatic changes in our lives can produce little meaningful impact. But small changes and decisions anointed to the Spirit can bring unexpectedly great benefits. We tend to think that only very great actions of very great people can change the world. Jesus tells us it is in fact the small and hidden opportunities to prefer love and true to fear and lies that matter most.

Let us trust in the LORD for our fruit. Let us pay attention to him in the small and in the hidden and to welcome him there. Then we will be in a secure place against temptations.

From the roof he saw a woman bathing, who was very beautiful.

David had already failed to go with his army into battle. He was already vulnerable. He allowed choices to accumulate one upon another. We must allow the Spirit to keep us in the will of God. He will keep the continuity of the small and hidden will of God even when something dramatic is required of us, like going to war with our troops. When something like this is demanded of us and we respond we will be surprised to find that the fruit that has been nurtured within us is sufficient. We have grace enough for the task at hand. We can do all things in Christ who loves us.