Father David's Reflection for Wednesday of Week Three (Ordinary Time)

Forever I will keep my love for him.

(Responsorial: Psalm 89)

In 2 Samuel 7:4-17 God made a breathtaking promise to David:

I will make for you a great name, like the names of the great ones of the earth… I will … raise up your offspring after you… He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

What would it be like to live in awareness that God made a promise like that to you? Has God destined each one of us for greatness, or just a special few?

We find the answer by looking at Mary, the “Mirror of the Church.” What we see in her is the pattern of what God does for his Church; each member of it. And by custom, the Church calls us, three times a day, through the ringing of the Angelus to be aware of it:

“The angel of the Lord declared to Mary, and she conceived by the Holy Spirit.” Jesus became alive in Mary as a seed. That same seed is in us by Baptism: the “mystery of Christ in us,” growing to “full stature.”

“Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done to me according to your word.” This is the model of the total surrender to which God calls each one of us is if we believe in his promise. He calls us all to the perfection of saints.

“And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” We are Christ’s body. Our flesh is his. We have “become Christ.” What does this say about what each of us is called to be and do on earth? Jesus is living and acting in us to continue his mission.

God did not promise David a “name” greater than ours. There is no “great name” greater than simply “Christian.” Jesus himself made us two promises as great as those to David:

I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.

Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these.

What would change in the attitude we take toward ourselves, our work, our family and social life, if we just kept ourselves aware of this promise? 1

Mark 4:1-20: Jesus tells us what hinders and helps the growth of the “seed” of his words and life in us. Note at the outset that he is speaking of the unseen mystery of our spiritual growth: of Christ himself growing in us until we “form that perfect man who is Christ come to full stature.”

For Christ’s life to grow in us: 1. We have to be aware of the new identity that takes us off the “beaten path” of culture that his words cannot penetrate. 2. We must commit to discipleship: the reflection that lets the seeds of his word reach the “root level” of choices. 3. We must dedicate ourselves as prophets to “weeding out” whatever in our lifestyle is in conflict with his words. 4. As priests and kings we need to create environments that foster faith and love. 5. We need to believe in his promise.

Initiative: Stay aware of God’s promise to do “great things” in you. Believe.

1 Luke 1:26-38, 45; Ephesians 4:11-13; Colossians 1:27. Vatican II: Church no. 40. Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 795.

2 John 14:12; 15:16.

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