Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
At work one day, I was moving a table from one building to another and in the process got injured. This broken rib and severe muscle tear has been slow to heal. Aside from the pain, I have learned greatly from these unimportant sufferings. In fact, this injury has had a number of good outcomes that were unexpected. One of the greatest of these was to remember that I am not doing ministry by myself. This forced humility has reminded me that I need to ask for help, not only from others but also from God.
As much as it is hard to ask to ask for in the midst of suffering, hope may even be harder to find. Yet in the words of St. Paul today are found very hope filled verses; “all things work for good for those who love God.” (Rom 8:28) The good outcomes that are forged through suffering are often slow to be realized. Sometimes I wish we could see the big picture so that we might understand in advance that things will be okay. This is where humility reminds us that God is in control and we are not. We need to recall Paul here again, the Holy Spirit intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will. In gratitude call to mind a recent instance where the Holy Spirit Interceded on your behalf.
But it is not enough to just have faith that the Spirit is with us, we must live in union with the Spirit. Our very lives must be conformed to Lord. For Jesus being conformed to the Lord is more than knowing the law or understanding the prophets. Being conformed means understanding that we need to be a model disciple in order to fit through the narrow gate. This narrow gate will not allow everyone to pass through. We are challenged in these scriptures that desire to enter is not enough. We are required to conform our lives body, mind and soul to Christ. We must become what we receive. We then as members of the body of Christ, can fully receive the body of Christ, so that we become the literal Body of Christ. Then Christ will be “All in All.”
-Michael Montgomery