The unique story Jesus tells about the seed that grows in secret is an important reminder about how growth in virtue and holiness are essentially caused by grace. We can be under the illusion that our becoming holier or better people is somehow up to us. Sometimes we priests even hear in confession, “I haven’t been the best version of myself.” I would like to tell those people, for one, that it isn’t up to them how and when they become the best version of themselves. Second, I would like them to know that only God knows what we will become – so we couldn’t possibly know what the best version of ourselves looks like. “Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall later be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” Grace is not something that we can either control or muster by our willing or trying. Grace does its own work just like the life and growth of a plant: all is contained within the seed, we can help make sure the conditions are present for growth to happen, but that growth happens from a vital cause hidden within the seed.
Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Is there a sin that cannot be forgiven? That is one of the subjects of today’s Gospel. Jesus does indeed say that there is a sin that will not be forgiven – but we need to try to understand what He means exactly. Compared to God, we are very hard on one another. We hold grudges about even very insignificant things: someone who never says “thank you,” someone who forgot to take the trash out again, someone who always takes over a conversation. Even when we are prepared to forgive bigger things, it is frequently the small things that we don’t want to let go of.
Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
It is important often to recall the simplicity of the Christian vocation: Love God above all things and love your neighbor as yourself.
CHRYSOSTOM:
But now God has made us such that nothing can subdue us. For our hands are bound but not our tongue, since nothing can bind the tongue but cowardice and unbelief. Where these are not, though you fasten chains upon us, the preaching of the gospel is not bound.
Any cloud passing over our skies may from time to time make us gloomy. But Paul’s heart had no such storms sweeping over it. Or better, there did sweep over him, and often, many storms, but his day was not darkened. Rather in the midst of the temptations and dangers the light shone out. Thus when bound with his chain he kept exclaiming, “The word of God is not bound.” Thus continually by means of that tongue the Word was sending forth its rays.