Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
A friend and I were recently discussing this previous Sunday’s gospel reading the parable of the sower. As we were talking, I shared about my own experience of gardening. After having let the garden go I have spent much of spring a summer trying to recover the good plants from the weeds and thorns that have been choking them. Pulling the weeds helped but when I didn’t get the roots, it looked pretty for a few days and then the weeds were right back. What remained hidden was a vast root system that empowered the bad plants to continue to thrive. What lay beneath the surface had more power to control what was on the surface than I could have anticipated.
In the reading from Isaiah God’s wrath is close to the surface. Historically the situation alluded to in this reading is one of Assyria flexing is political and military power over Judah. The northern tribes had already been assimilated and now their sites were set on Jerusalem. The king of Assyria really did want to conquer and annihilate Israel. The king believed he and his armies were responsible for their victories over the northern tribes. The scripture suggests that no one even opened their mouth; no mother bird fluttered her wings to protect the inhabitants of the Northern region.
Isaiah uses these events to remind the people of Judah that they too may be given over to Assyria. The prophet says the Lord used Assyria to chastise those who were unfaithful. At the same time, the prophecy from Isaiah implies that the Lord will put down the enthroned and God will eventually avenge Assyria’s aggression.
The message that lies almost hidden beneath the surface is to be faithful to the Lord. The message seems hidden though, as it veiled in the imagery of midst of being trampled down and destruction of Israel by Assyria. The psalmist reminds Israel that the Lord will not abandon his people. We too are reminded here that no matter what is going on beneath the surface in our lives the Lord though seemingly hidden will be there to empower us.
In the Gospel, the Lord’s exclamation mirrors Isaiah’s about calling the people to repentance. Some of Jesus greater miracles and messages have not been understood by the scribes and the Pharisees. How is it then that when Jesus reveals God to the chosen people, they miss the message, and the gentiles get it? How much more is today’s message true for us? We often get caught up in our own plans, our own battles and fail to see the Lord’s love and mercy often hidden just beneath the surface. Often the way live hides from our eyes the messages that God truly intends for us to see, hear and become. Today as we go about the business of our lives, let us ask the Lord to open our eyes to new ways in which to see His presence.
"Lord open the eyes of my heart, I truly want to see you and the plan you have in store. Amen!"
- Michael Montgomery