By Rev. Joe McCloskey, SJ
Thus says the LORD: Just as from the heavens the rain
and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making
it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one
who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; my word shall not
return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11
We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains
even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits
of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the
redemption of our bodies. Romans 18:22-23
“But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a
hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.” Matthew 13:8-9
Piety
Our piety makes it
possible for the seed of God’s word to fall on rich soil. Piety gives us ears to hear God’s word. The eyes of our soul make it possible to see
the presence of Christ in another and recognize Christ in each other. Piety also makes it possible to preach always
even when we are using few words. Our
piety is recognized in all the ways Christ calls us to be his presence in our
world today. Our piety is what the Word
has accomplished in us because we have the good soil of our piety. Piety is also the history of all the ways we
have been nourished by the word of God. Piety
is how we have grown into Christ in our living out the word and absorbing
Christ as our body and blood made rich by his Body and Blood.
Study
Our study reveals the
presence of God in our lives. Study is
how we prepare the soil of our souls for the coming of the word. Study includes all the ways we take the wax
out of the ears of our soul. Attractions
can be soul stoppers in their addictive potential. The examination of our consciousness of the
Lord’s presences in our lives is one of the most profitable studies of our own
life. We study how well God uses us. We
learn from the discovery of ways he has been active in our lives how to build a
life style that keeps active our awareness of how to be closer to God is in our
lives. We study how to continue to do
what we have learned from the Lord touching our lives with good spiritual
books. That is how we better recognize
the actions of the Lord in others and ourselves.
Action
The Corporeal and
Spiritual Works of Mercy are what we are trying to increase in the actions of
our lives. What we do for the hungry,
thirsty, naked, prisoners and the sick is enriched by how the Spiritual Works
of Mercy elevate our lives to a higher plane. Therein lies the work of the Lord in our
lives. What we try to do for the last,
lowest and least one of our companions is what Christ sees us doing for him. We try to be more than his companion imitating
his life. We try to be saints who are in
their time and circumstance updates of the Christ we are serving. We too try to be a real Christ by the way we
accept his word into our lives and live it.
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