With a little help from us

Yes, with a little help from us the full wonder of God’s

grace would be revealed to us. This was articulated by Christ himself

when he compared the Kingdom of God to how a seed grows. (cfr. Mk

4,26-34)

  

            “It is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and

would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow,

he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the

blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the

grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has

come.”

  

            What he is telling us is that as long as we do our part,

no matter how meager it is, he will astound us with his own tremendous

power! He reiterated this point when he again compared the Kingdom of

God to a mustard seed, a very small seed.

  

            “Once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of

plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can

dwell in its shade.”

  

            It is very moving to realize that what God is asking of us

is actually very little in comparison to what he will be giving and

doing for us. Another gospel episode that highlights this point is

that of the miraculous catch of fish. (cfr. Lk 5,1-11)

   

            Christ asked Peter to go to the deep and lower the nets

for a catch. Peter at first was hesitant because he was fishing the

previous night and caught nothing. But to Peter’s credit, he just

obeyed Christ. And lo and behold, Peter caught such a large quantity

of fish that he had to ask help to bring the catch of fish to the

shore.

  

            It is indeed very reassuring that this is actually what

happens in our relationship with God. All that we need to do are just

the little duties we have, and God’s grace will come to us in

abundance.

  

            We simply have to do things in good faith, in obedience to

God’s will, though sometimes God’s will would require extraordinary

effort and sacrifice. But then again, whatever investment we have to

give, even if in our own estimation it is already quite sizable, is

nothing compared to what God will give us in return.

  

            Corresponding to God’s will in our own small way is the

highest yielding investment we can make. Let us remember that God can

never be outdone in generosity. Christ himself said: “Whoever has

(referring to one’s faith and trust in God) will be given more, and he

will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will

be taken away from him.” (Mt 13,12)

  

            Let’s not forget that when we are sparing in our

self-giving to God and to others, God will take away even the little

that we have. The law that should rule our life is that of love, of

total self-giving no matter what it would cost, though most times, the

cost is really little only.

  

            Only to a few people would some extraordinary sacrifices

would be asked by God. For most of us, we would only be asked a

little. The secret is to do God’s will with pure faith accompanied by

the best effort we could give.

  

            And we do not have to wait for some special occasions or

for some special persons to do this. The usual, ordinary events of our

day and the ordinary people as recipients of our good deeds can be the

good occasion to show our faith and love for God.

  

            Remember Christ saying: “Whatever you did for one of the

least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Mt 25,40)