Wednesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
"When the oxygen mask falls put it on yourself first and then help the others around you." These words are part of the universal safety talk given on airplanes before a flight. It seems counter-intuitive for people who wish to help others. On the other hand there are many times in our lives when we have inclinations toward self-centeredness. These times can naturally grow out of a need for self-preservation. More often, especially in our individualistic society, they are part of the pull of our culture. As Christians, we are called to go beyond self towards the other. The first and most important other is of course God. It is through our relationship with God, out of which all of our relationships should flow.
In today’s reading for Samuel, Nathan receives a vision from the Lord. It in part responds to David’s desire to build a house for God. The vision makes clear that the Lord has been with the people even as left Egypt, even as they wander in the desert. Throughout this journey the Lord had no house. From Egypt, through the wandering, to settling in the Promised Land all God wanted was a relationship with his people. The reading and the psalm remind us that God extends his eternal covenant though David and his heirs. “For ever I will maintain my love for my servant. (Ps 89: 29a)
God’s message to David is God’s message to us. It reminds us of the need to keep our focus on God first and foremost. It is through today’s gospel that we are given images that help us embrace God’s covenant. Our hearts are represented by the various descriptions of ground in Jesus’ parable. Clearly, we must have hearts ready to accept, nurture and harvest God’s love so as to be fruit for the Kingdom.
“Almighty God, source of all blessings, there are many times that we tend only the garden of our own need. Send someone to us who is a prophet. Have that person call us back into a deeper relationship with You. Ground us always in this relationship, so that through us everyone will encounter Your loving and merciful Son who lives and reigns one God forever and ever. Amen!”
-Michael Montgomery