Growing apart from God or becoming closer to him rarely happens in an instant – it’s more often a gradual process we need to be aware of. Fr Richard reflects on today’s readings from Mass.
Readings for Monday of week 17 of ordinary time can be found here.
Do you enjoy shopping for shoes, clothes, or home furnishings? Some people love it, while others hate it. I definitely fall into the latter category, and only buy new clothes, a mattress or sofa when I absolutely have to. I wait until things are literally falling apart and really must be replaced. If you’re like me then no doubt you will have noticed something about how things wear out. Although they can suddenly tear or break, it’s usually more gradual. After miles and miles of walking, a favourite pair of shoes get more and more worn down until finally a hole appears in the sole – usually when it’s raining. A shirt or jacket we wear a lot becomes gradually more and more frayed until it really has to go in the bin.
In our first reading today God commands Jeremiah to buy a new item of clothing – a linen loincloth of all things! The loincloth – the equivalent of underwear – is something intimate, which clings to the waist. The cloth in this reading symbolises God’s people, and how he intended them to be close to him at all times. Then God tells Jeremiah to place his new garment in a hole in the rock near the River Euphrates. After leaving it there for many days, it is ruined. This symbolises how Judah has turned away from God and spoiled their relationship with him. Just like our clothes wearing out over time, the loincloth took a while to get spoiled in that hole. Similarly, Judah did not abandon God in one moment – it happened gradually over time, bit by bit.
In the Gospel we have two images of things happening gradually, but in the other direction. The kingdom of heaven, Jesus says, is like a mustard seed or like yeast. Both things are small and yet will do something remarkable: the seed turns into a great tree, while the yeast leavens the dough. Neither happens immediately, however. A seed takes time to sprout and grow, while dough must be left to prove before being baked so that the yeast can do its work. May we always be aware of the gradual nature of things – the small habits which can lead us away from God like the people of Judah, or those daily practices which help us to grow strong in our faith. Above all, may we be patient, knowing that God’s purposes will be fulfilled in God’s own time.
Mass today is in St Dyfrig & St Samson at 6.30pm.
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