Change Inevitable, Growth Optional

Fifteenth Sunday in Course (A)

Originally 13 July 2008 edited 2023

“Farmers are the founders of human civilization,” said Daniel Webster. Farming and gardening are just the same the analogies chosen by the Lord to illustrate a profound truth about the loving mercy of our God. Moreover, if we pay close attention to the prophet Isaiah, St. Paul, and Jesus today, we will learn more about how to make the messes we and others make into the fertile soil for spiritual growth. Remember, change is inevitable; growth is optional.

I’m not going to ask for a show of hands, but I would guess that most of us have, in the past twelve months, suffered some injury, disappointment, or loss that would qualify as “moaning bad.” When St. Paul says that the sufferings of the present are not at all comparable to the glory that awaits us if we persevere in charity, we can all say, “bring it on, Lord–the glory, I mean.” I think St. Paul is writing about moaning in the same sense Jesus said “blessed are they who mourn.” The scholars tell us that the moaning, or mourning, is not so much a lament over a loved one, or even less a lost job or boyfriend. What Paul and Jesus say we mourn over is the condition of our world. God gave us a beautiful creation, full of human life and resources for building up the human community and giving God glory. God gave us His only Son, who preached a kingdom of love and justice, and who died for our salvation so that we could be reborn in His image by the power of the Holy Spirit.

But our world seems bound to turn its back on God’s gift. If the gift of life is the fundamental bonum of God, practically every nation on earth has legitimized murdering our tiny brothers and sisters before they are born. Communist China, whom we once famously rewarded with the Olympic games for the abuse of their people, not so long ago penalized women who offended the state by having a second child–all the way to forcing them to have abortions. Now they've aborted themselves almost into demographic death, and people are so used to restricting childbearing that they aren't turning that problem around. We Americans cannot cluck our tongues at them very hard when our own nation is still guilty of tens of millions of the same crime. Yes, we moan and groan and mourn in a culture of death. But God promises us that if we are faithful to His call, he will make a future of glory so great that we won’t remember these moaning-bad times.

It is true today as it was in Isaiah’s time: God’s word is not spoken in vain. The prophetic word has a power that will inevitably root out the evil and cultivate the good. We can make ourselves part of His plan, or we can resist His plan, but His word will transform the world.

So let’s assume that we actually want to be part of His plan, that we want the Word to take root in our world and grow into a vine of peace, justice and forgiveness that will fill the world. The Gospel tells us how to do it. See that the sower sowed good seed. It all had life in it; given the right conditions, it could all have sprouted. God wants all men, women and children to be saved, to be reborn in the image of His Son, Jesus. There is no predestination to hell. Those who are there have freely willed separation from God. God's grace, won by Jesus on Calvary, is freely given, like the rain on the fields. His call is to everyone, like the seed scattered on the ground.

If the seed doesn’t sprout, because a hard heart rejects it and the birds gobble it up; If it sprouts but isn’t allowed to root and withers for lack of nourishment; if it grows and then is choked out by desires that overwhelm the desire for union with God–none of these are God’s fault. We can put barriers in the way of the seed’s maturity, for ourselves and others. Scandal is particularly harmful. If one of our friends or co-workers knows we are a Catholic, but hears us gossiping or backbiting or complaining all the time, then what is there to attract them to Jesus? Others should see and hear our joy in the Holy Spirit, so they will want that same joy for ourselves. We must examine our consciences each evening to see how we are manifesting Jesus to the world.

How do we nourish our faith and that of our family? Is there good Christian literature in the house, and do we read it? I mean solid teaching like that found in the journal Catholic Answers? Do we pray as a family more than just at meals? Do we discuss the events of the day, or any upcoming elections, in light of the Gospel?