8/2/2019 Homily 6-16-2011

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Today we have two important messages: (1) With God, it doesn't take much to do a lot - a littlegoes a long way. (2) God is patient with us.

A common stylistic technique of the ancient writers is to use an inclusio or bracket structure: thewriter would connect the beginning of a section to the end of a section, thus allowing the listener toknow where the story was making a big shift onto the next part. Today we see that in theseparation of the weeds and the wheat from its explanation. Further, the middle section oftenprovides some important assistance for understanding the rest, like a core that is elaboratelydecorated on both sides.

So, the two short parables that we find in the middle today, of the mustard seed and the yeast,have something in common. The quickest connection we can see is that they both do amazingthings with something so little. The mustard seed started the smallest but outshines all otherbushes after it has fully grown. Three measures of wheat in that time made enough bread to feedabout a hundred people! and yet the small amount of yeast can effect it all. The kingdom of God islike that: with God, it doesn't take much - a little does a lot. Think of the history of the church forexample: 12 apostles begin preaching at Pentecost, soon the entire Roman empire has felt thedizzying effect of a new religion, and even in spite of various persecutions, Christianity becomesthe official religion and redefines the western world in less than three centuries. Think of the historyof the world, especially of Europe, and what God can do with the inspirational life of one saint: the

little mustard seed of Saint Benedict, by God's design, becomes the foundation of thousands ofmonastic communities throughout Europe and the world - and this started over 1,500 years ago!Who could try to count the number of lives affected by him - lives that, like the birds in the mustardtree, flocked to it to find a home and prepare their souls for eternity while serving their fellow manby their labors. Think of the leaven of Saint Francis, who by his vocation lifted up the sinking heartsof Christians and still to this day has spread joy and love into the hearts of so many by the endlessfranciscans who follow his meager way of life. Indeed, with one life, God can do immeasurablegood, if that person is a simple, humble, obedient instrument who relies on God for the sowing ofthe seed and the growth of the wheat. Mother Theresa's great love for the poor and outcast haslifted the hearts of so many weak and vulnerable on the verge of death in Calcutta and around theworld - 4,500 sisters in 133 countries.

The infinite repercussions of the saints throughout our world's history is a great call from Our Lord

to purify ourselves, to be like them and to change the face of the earth. Because we know wearen't perfect - we aren't fully open to his Grace which could do similar miracles in our lives and inthe lives of those we meet.

And this is where the other parable comes in: The weeds and the wheat. We find in this parableGod's great patience to put up with the weeds, for fear of uprooting the wheat with them as well.Here we see a glimpse into the mystery of evil in our world - without some weeds, we would neverhave wheat. Evil and good go hand in hand, because both are a result of the freedom that God hasgiven us. We have free will and must use it ourselves: God refuses to do it for us. His great mercyawaits the wicked to be converted, to be made whole and changed - changed from weeds intowheat. How many "weeds" have the great saints of history inspired to change, with God's help, intowheat - holy souls that love God and man? We will simply never know, but for sure their impacthas been enormous.

But here's the catch - that field is not only the world that will be judged - each of us individually findin our hearts that wickedness. The "weeds" of sin, of fear, of doubt, of anger, are present in all ofus. What things do we need to transform? Simply digging these weeds out is not the answer - Goddid not do so for others and he does not wish so for us. He waits patiently for us to learn how tolove Him and others.

Let us look at Saint Paul's reading to the Romans for help: "The Spirit comes to our aid in ourweakness." Recall how Saint Paul refers elsewhere to a "thorn in his flesh" that he begged God toremove, to "dig out" of his life, and God refused. What was His answer to Paul?: "My Grace is

8/2/2019 Homily 6-16-2011

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sufficient for you." God wants us to transform the weeds in our heart, not rid them entirely, butrather turn them into wheat, into good for His greater glory. We can do this by cooperating with thegifts, the Graces, He wishes to gives us every day. In doing this, in relying on God for our "dailybread" to transform our personal weeds into wheat, God can make us vessels for the help of otherpeople - he can make us into the great saints that can bring others along the way to the Father.

As we come before Our Lord today, let us ask God to plant the mustard seed of the Gospel deepinto our hearts, to let it take root and grow through us into a great haven for others. Let us ask tobe saints! Here in the Eucharist is our proof: God is patient with us, and with God, a little doesmore than we can imagine.