When people first started developing tools to make life
easier, every single little detail of a tool had a specific purpose. Nothing
they did was by accident or simply for flare. Even what was meant to be artwork
had a specific purpose that had to do with either religious beliefs or common
everyday activities. Everything was very intentional.
From soda cans and can openers, to seams and tape measuring
machines, there are tiny details in the design, that may at first seem purely
aesthetic but, but actually serve a very useful purpose. Sometimes their
purpose may even seem blatantly obvious, but in reality, the product’s intended
purpose is something you may never have thought of! For example, the tiny
extra pocket on the side of men’s pants, known as the fifth pocket. While
millions of people have found thousands of different uses for it, it was
designed with a very specific item in mind, to protect the most important item
on the gold miners carried in the mid-1800s. Their pocket watches.[1]
When Jesus said “What is the Kingdom
of God like”? (Lk
13:18) What do you think people expected? Would everything
change? Would there be a new normal? Jesus gives us two images to ponder, the
mustard seed that points out how our little efforts of living the Gospel are
more powerful than we can imagine. The other image is yeast, mixed with wheat
flour and warm water, it produces a great transformation to yield a treasured
loaf that reminds us, God is always with us, working in ways we cannot see for
His intended purpose.[2]
Yet, we are still asking those same questions today
concerning the Kingdom of God, what do we
expect? Will everything change? Will there be a new normal? When some people
hear this passage from Ephesians, they often jump to the more controversial
parts about how the wife should be “subordinate to
their husbands” (Eph
5:22) missing the
first line, “Be subordinate to one another out of
reverence for Christ.” (Eph 5:21) This scripture passage speaks of a “household code” where, in marriage, we offer ourselves other freely to our
spouse, to love, “even as Christ loved the Church and
handed himself over for her.” (Eph 5:25) Husbands, do you want to know how to
love your wives?
Enter into this Eucharist with all your being and then live it at home as your “household code”. This is the seed, planted in our heart that is meant to change everything. Living this self-giving love at home is the yeast, with the purpose of transforming children, transform work places into recognizing the gifts of every laborer, transforming society into welcoming communities that value life and the human dignity of every person, loving this way, transforms the world. Thus, fostering God’s “intended purpose” to reveal His Kingdom, present in our midst today.
[1] Shareably.net. “40+ Everyday Things
With Hidden Features You Didn’t Know The Purpose Of”, by Jessica Adler, Dec 17,
2018.
[2] Weekday HomilyHelps. Homily Suggestion by
Jeanne Hunt.
No comments:
Post a Comment