You are God’s Field September 6

“For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9

“They came to him.” Luke 4: 42

Piety
Let us pray: Today God, like every day, you give us a divine choice. First, help us to recognize that you are present and dwelling among us. Then, you show us the path that leads to you. Let us be your building where you dwell to the depths of our soul. Come to us and come also to the men who will attend the 113th Cursillo at St. Joseph’s Seminary later this month. Show us all how you are the way, the truth and the life. Use us for your good works and strengthen our faith in you. Amen.

Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/090606.shtml

Shall we be like the people of Nazareth or of Capernaum? Just days ago our scriptures recounted the story of Jesus being rejected by the people in his own home town. They who had known Jesus throughout his lifetime saw him only as the son of the carpenter.

Today, we see a totally different reaction to Jesus. First in Simon’s mother, we see Jesus go to her, cure her and she serves him. Second, the crowd reacts to this in faith by brining even more people to Jesus for cures.

In Nazareth, the people drove him from the town. We read on Monday:

When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

In Capernaum, they didn’t want him to leave. We read today:

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.

Jesus approaches us not matter how we will react. And then he waits for our reaction. Will we recognize the prophet in his home town or only when he travels miles away? Psalm 33 tells us that when Jesus looks down, he sees all people as His own. Yet, in our hearts, Jesus waits for our reaction. He made us, fashioned our hearts and knows what we will do. But we must choose. Jesus won’t choose for us.

If we choose Him, then we will become, according to St. Paul, God’s co-workers. God will dwell in us and we will become the field on which he works wonders.

No matter what our reaction, Jesus can not stay in us alone forever. He will keep walking over all the earth until he preaches the Word to all people.

Action

Where can we look for Jesus today?

Is there a deserted place where he has retreated and where he waits to see our reaction? Or he is teaching in the public square waiting for our help?

When Jesus learns our reaction, he will have to depart. Where will He go next? Will he find willing servants (like Simon’s mother) there or will our dedication be a source of joy for him to carry onward?

As we go forward from our Cursillo experience, the community provides Ultreya for our continued support. Think of Ultreya as a modern day Capernaum Experience. Through it, we rejoice while the bridegroom is among us.