Today is the liturgical feast of St. Matthew, the tax collector turned apostle of our Lord Jesus.It is inspiring to behold how the Incarnate Word of God – Jesus our Master – is able to effect change and transformation in the lives of people. Putting together the Gospel readings of last Saturday, September 16 (cf Lk 8:4-15) and last Sunday, September 17 (cf Mt 20: 1-16a), I came up with this reflection, remembering also the creative reading of the Pauline priest who guided our Hong Kong community in the monthly recollection last July. The seed sown on different types of soil could also be re-read in the time dimension of our daily life. Usually, we listen to the Word of God early in the morning during meditation, when we are still incapacitated or “out of condition” to listen; hence we sleep while listening or we listen, sleeping. Hopefully, as the sun of God’s grace continues to shine in our day, we progressively warm up to the Word and we accept it with joy even if we still don’t dwell in it deeply. At midday, we enter into the forest of the day’s occupations and distractions. Lucky if the Word survives such treacherous terrain! Fortunately, we have 24 hours in a day and God’s grace is present all throughout. So, hopefully, before the day ends, the Word perseveres in letting its presence be felt. Hopefully it succeeds in penetrating our hearts, in mysterious ways: sometimes even through seemingly insignificant items like a passing comment, a brief conversation with a fellow sister or other persons, a glance on the beauty of nature and the like. God’s Word is alive, active, powerful. It perseveres despite all oppositions. It is not we who persevere. It is not we who are patient. It is God’s Word, because His Word is a Person. The Word became flesh in Jesus our Master. With Jesus in us, and we in Jesus, there will surely be fruits – of faith, love, hope, joy, kindness (cf Gal 5:22-23).
