Today, by God's grace, I was able to get to morning mass. The Lord didn't let my paltry effort go to waste, either, as the liturgy hit me right between the eyes. Several times. In a good way.
Here is a snippet from the first reading: (from Hebrews 10:32-39)
Therefore, do not throw away your confidence;
it will have great recompense.
You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised.
Left jab!
And another from the Reponsorial Psalm: (From Psalm 37)
. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
By the LORD are the steps of a man made firm,
and he approves his way.
Though he fall, he does not lie prostrate,
for the hand of the LORD sustains him.
Right cross!
And then the Gospel: (From St. Mark 4:26-34)
Jesus said to the crowds:
“This is how it is with the Kingdom of God;
it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land
and would sleep and rise night and day
and the seed would sprout and grow,
he knows not how.
Of its own accord the land yields fruit,
And just for good measure, the communion antiphon:
Look toward the Lord and be radiant, let your faces not be ashamed.
Annd, the KO.
Father's homily went on to describe how the mustard seed of faith is accepted by God and multiplied beyond our human ability and comprehension. How Mother Teresa carried one person off the street at a time. How God's power is what is needed, not our own. We just have to come up with that little seed. That small act. Offer that sore heart.
Today, He lovingly encouraged me. I always can recognize His voice because of the profound love and gentleness, even as I am corrected.
Once again I am overwhelmingly grateful for the gift of the Church, where I can go and just plug into the mass, or adoration, or if I can, say a Rosary, and if I can't, just hold some Rosary beads. I don't have to come up with anything on my own at all, except the mustard seed of getting myself in the doors.
As Father said, " We just provide the mustard seed of faith, and God does all the rest. All we can do is what we are able." He even mentioned letting go of control. Nice one, Father.
How true, how comforting. What a relief when life threatens to overwhelm, and I am tempted to try to tough it out on my own. How easy to forget!
*no idea why all the white boxes around the text. will come back and fix it later!
