Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
It’s hard to imagine that someone in our society would experience too much love. Perhaps those introverts, like myself, might easily become overwhelmed by too much attention – but even admitting that fact it seems obvious that our society cold use more love in general. Today’s first reading calls on those in married relationships to use their love in a way that models it for all of society – married or not.
At first glance, today’s first reading from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians can appear somewhat sexist – as if wives are strictly meant to serve their husbands. However, the first line cannot be overlooked – “be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.” This letter was written at a time when such a mentality was counter-cultural. Perhaps it isn’t that big of a leap to say that such a mentality still pervades some relationships in our society today. This selection from Paul’s letter continues to explain how this sense of subordination is founded upon mutual love and servanthood that shapes married relationships in a way that honors Christ and models such love for the Church. I believe that such marital relationships can be a model for any of or personal and communal relationships, and vice versa.
Oftentimes these acts of love can feel like a small mustard seed, similar to the analogy Jesus provides in today’s Gospel. Much like the Kingdom of God, our faith calls us to believe that these acts of love, no matter how small, can grow into much larger acts of love. Its these acts of love that we, as Catholics, are called to model and emulate in all our relationships with a mentality of servanthood that Paul describes.
May we embrace God’s grace more fully today so that it may empower and guide our ability to love others. May we allow the love of others and our own acts of love to grow like a mustard seed and enrich our world like yeast does unleavened bread. – Amen.
- Mike Bennett