Optional Memorial of Saint Peter Chrysologus, bishop and doctor of the Church
After carefully and prayerfully reflecting on the parable in today’s Gospel, I should be able to see there are two attitudes Jesus wants me to incorporate better into my life: realism and patience.
I may dream that things would go easier for me if I lived in a better world where all people were sane and saintly, where there was no television or cell phones to distract me and where the only inclination I would feel would be always to see Christ in others. Jesus shows me in this parable that that is not being realistic.
Being realistic means finding the Lord in prayer where I am and who I am, seeing myself, imperfect and sinful as I am, the people about me, obnoxious as some can be, and the situation in which I live, terrifying at times, - seeing all of this as the place and circumstances where God awaits me to find him.
As the one who conquered death by his death and resurrection, Christ can change the seeds of weeds into good seeds and he asks me to collaborate with him in this work of redemption. But this work takes time. So, he asks me to cultivate patience, the same kind of patience, with a shot of humor, as he has now with me.
Resolve: Special prayers today that Christ, in collaboration with the prayers of the members of his Mystical Body, will in time change bad seed into good seed.