+ What a wonderfully constructed set of readings for this ordinary day in the Church calendar! It all comes down to what was read in the "alleluia verse" – Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance. This sentence in a very quiet and almost unassuming way delivers one of the most powerful messages in all of scripture: live the commandments (the 10 commandments of the first reading today from the Book of Exodus) with a generous heart (not begrudgingly, or fearfully, or with any motive other than pure love and gratitude to God for all of his many blessings), perseveringly: through good times and bad, whether you agree totally with these commandments or not, whether you feel you are making any progress in the spiritual life or not – and you will be richly blessed by God with everything you need in this life, and with an eye on the future life of glory to which you are called. [The converse is true as well – despising the commandments (any or all of them), with a stubborn heart, not giving them any time or attention at all will certainly incur the just wrath of God: why would he not punish a willful, disobedient child?
The gospel passage today puts it another way: in keeping the word, generously and perseveringly you will be like rich soil on which the seed of the word fell, and you will not only hear the word, but you will also understand it – and it will bear fruit in your life with works of mercy and healing and peacemaking: a hundred, or sixty or thirtyfold.
Lord, you have the words of everlasting life! More precious than gold are they, sweeter than syrup or honey from the comb! May we always hunger for these life-giving words!
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