Luke 17:20-21 “The coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the kingdom of God is among you.”
My wife, Anna, and I live is an apartment complex. One of the benefits is that we have the option of gardening because the complex has small raised garden plots. Spring is around the corner and we are already planning our Spring garden. It is a satisfying hobby. The amount of money we spend is more than we could purchase at a market but the planning and watching the progress of the seeds to seedlings and then to full grown plants and eventually to harvest. Any garden has to be nurtured, watered and cared for to completion.
Our readings today focus on the connection between the Kingdom of God and Faith. “To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.”— St. Thomas Aquinas
The Kingdom of God is fertilized and nurtured by faith and the use of the Sacraments. Christ placed so much emphasis on the Kingdom that He mentioned it a great number of times in the Gospels. It is how we live with Jesus as our head. It is spiritual but no less real.
How do we nurture our Faith and in turn build the Kingdom ?
Does it mean that everything will go our way and we will not have pain or trouble? No, Jesus says just the opposite and even in Hebrews At times your were subject to abuse and affliction; at other times your associated yourselves with those so treated. You even joined in the suffering with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property knowing that you had a better and longer last possession. Therefore do not through away your confidence; it will have great recompense. You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what He has promised. The important thing is that Jesus is in charge and no matter what our troubles if we live in His Kingdom it will win in the end.
You may not think you have the faith of a mustard seed. However, everyday reading scripture, using the sacraments you will nurture and grow your garden of faith and in the end God’s Kingdom will grow. What we do does not only strengthen our faith but the faith of others.
Happy gardening!
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
