Daily Reflection for Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Tuesday’s readings at this link:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102522.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Ephesians 5:21-33
Responsorial: Psalm 128:1-5
Gospel: Luke 13:18-21
Our reflection on Tuesday’s readings:
What is the Kingdom of God like? Luke 13:18
To be honest, I have absolutely no idea what the Kingdom of God is like. When I read the Gospel for this day I started going back in my memories. As a child being raised in a Southern Baptist church in Florida, the image of the Kingdom of God was an old man sitting on a throne, smiling, and casting lightening at sinners. In the background were fluffy white clouds and angels fluttering about. Very one dimensional.
Later, when the concept of mansions and homes in the Kingdom was introduced, another one-dimensional picture came to mind: large southern mansions on spotless streets surrounded by houses with white picket fences and immaculate lawns beneath more fluffy white clouds in a spotless blue sky. But again, no people visible. If I thought about what people might be there, they were always sinless and perfect. No way was I ever going to be able to join them.
As I got older and joined the Catholic church, my ideas began to shift. Yes, it would be possible for imperfect people like myself to enter God’s Kingdom. God did send His Son, Jesus the Christ, to the world that by His Passion and sacrifice we might receive the grace and forgiveness of the Father. Forever, no matter what we have done.
A very small group of people heard the Good News and went out into the world to share it. They told the story and people believed and became followers themselves. Back before newspapers, steam ships, airplanes, and all of our current electronic forms of communication, God’s salvation story spread throughout the known world.
The Gospel speaks of a mustard seed and yeast. The only mustard I am familiar with comes in jars with a yellow paste or a bottle filled with yellow powder. But I understand yeast and how it acts. When I used to bake bread, I used cups and cups of flour, water, one very small package of yeast. That one small package affected all the other ingredients to make many loaves of bread, totally out of proportion to its size. Yeast, like the original apostles, demonstrates how very small things or groups of people can change others.
To me, the Kingdom of God is trusting how our efforts and beliefs can result in things beyond our small imaginations.
Peace,
Al Ammons
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.