Daily Reflection Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

In the passage from Hebrews today, we are told that, “You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised.” This is a central truth about the spiritual life. The very first of Jesus’ parables in Mark that begins chapter 4 (from where today’s gospel passage is taken) is the parable of the Sower and the seed. In Jesus’ explanation of this parable to his disciples later (the only time in the gospels we are given one of these explanations), Jesus says about the second sowing on rocky ground, “These, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.”

This can easily happen to any of us, especially when we begin to try to pray earnestly and daily; to pray more than an “Our Father” and a few “Hail Mary’s” and sit for some time and talk to God, what is called meditational prayer. That kind of praying (or something like it) is the only gateway to a deeper spiritual life. But it requires great endurance and dedication because it is extremely difficult to overcome the initial hurdles that always loom large when we begin to attempt it. Hurdles such as distractions, boredom, feeling little, not knowing what to say, agitation and impatience. In short, it is initially a great struggle against our own will. One of the biggest hurdles is that it must be done every day and so few are willing to dedicate the time for it in our busy lives, because it takes time. Alas, those initial hurdles can last for quite some time, months perhaps (if you sat at a piano for the first time, would you expect to start playing Chopin?). So few endure, yet the rewards are so very great. 

If you desire to begin such prayer, start with a very small amount of time, say five minutes (set a timer so you’re not always looking at your watch!) and do that for a month, after which (if you feel ready) you can add another five minutes the next month and then the next (but keep it to an hour max- yes, it’s possible! though not necessary- to avoid vanity). Seek to trust God that things will indeed eventually begin to happen, wonderful things. Do not give in to discouragement (of which there will be plenty!). I have waited, waited for the Lord, and He stooped to me and heard my cry. (Psalm 40:1) Remember, we’re not trying to get God to listen to us (God always does and is always answering) but to get our poor hearts to hear him!

The parable of the farmer planting in today’s passage from Mark, also teaches us this truth of endurance. Jesus says that the farmer plants and then the seed slowly but surely grows, “He knows not how.” God is doing it all, not us, and we have no idea how God’s grace works in us, we just believe it does if we let it. Remember, it is always we who are somehow resisting God, never God resisting us. The famous parable of the mustard seed completes the picture. Everything about our spiritual life, especially true, daily prayer (again, the only gateway to all the rest), begins very, very small. Be content to remain small as long as it takes until that day, which will always come if we are faithful and endure, when we will, with great joy and gratitude, hear Jesus say to our hearts, “Come up higher!”