seeding is believing
"The reign of God is like a mustard seed which someone took and sowed in his field." —Matthew 13:31
The Lord is looking for someone to sow a mustard seed. Physically, this is light work, for thousands of mustard seeds weigh almost nothing. However, sowing a mustard seed is hard work spiritually. When someone sows a mustard seed, he appears to be doing nothing. Although he knows he is doing something, he himself feels as if he is doing something which amounts to nothing. He is strongly tempted to despise "small beginnings" (Zec 4:10).
Like Jesus, the Suffering Servant and the Messiah, the sower of a mustard seed feels he has "toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent" his strength (Is 49:4). The life of a mustard seed sower is hidden in Christ (Col 3:3) and appears useless and hopeless. Nevertheless, the Lord promises a mustard seed sower: "I will make you a light to the nations, that My salvation may reach to the ends of the earth" (Is 49:6).
In this long-awaited year of the Great Jubilee, some of you reading this feel discouraged that we are still light-years away from the amazing justice and freedom which is part of the Jubilee. However, put the drop of your life into the ocean of God's love. God will multiply it to transform the world.
Prayer: Father, I will give You my best even when no one but You knows what I'm doing.
Promise: "I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to Me, says the Lord; to be My people, My renown, My praise, My beauty." —Jer 13:11
Praise: St. Ignatius was a tough soldier who had the strength of will to survive a broken leg suffered when he was hit by a cannonball. He encountered Jesus while convalescing, and yielded his entire will to the Lord. His constant prayer was: "I surrender all to Your divine will."
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, December 16, 1999
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 18, 1999