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Third Sunday of Advent
December 12, 2004
See how the farmer waits for the precious yield of the soil, being patient while it receives the early and late rain. You too must be patient. Keep your heart steadfast, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.
James 5: 7-8
Mountain Flowers
No one starts out in the life of faith as a full-blown Christian. We all start small. Faith begins as a seed planted in the heart. In the beginning this seed bears little resemblance to mature faith. If it is to grow, it must be nurtured. It must be rooted in the soil of a caring, supportive community. It must be fed with the life-giving word of God and watered with the sacraments. God's grace must shine on it like warm sunshine. If conditions are right, the seed will grow into a beautiful flower.
High above the tree line in the Rocky Mountains of North America, and in other high ranges around the world, a wide variety of flowering plants grow in the harsh ecosystem of the mountain peaks. In a growing season of two short months, in thin air, cold temperatures, and howling winds, a variety of hardy plants survive. They cling low to the ground to avoid the biting winds, and spread broad leaves and petals to capture precious warmth. They need many years to grow to their modest size. And they are so fragile that even a single misstep by a careless hiker can damage one irreparably. They pale in comparison with the luxurious flowers of friendlier environments, but from their place upon the heights they give glory to God. And God in turn is dazzled by their beauty.
We can see something of ourselves in the lowly flowers of the mountains. We are not much to look at. We take a long time to grow. We struggle to survive in the harsh conditions of human life. But in our own small way we give glory to God by our effort to grow in faith. And God is dazzled by our beauty. He looks upon each one of us and sees a beauty and grace no one else sees. He watches his love grow in us, and he waits patiently for it to reach maturity. And when we are full-grown, he will take us to himself, and we will grace his house with the flowering beauty of his love in us.
God our Father, you love the smallest creatures of the earth no less than the greatest. Nurture us with your love, that we may grow in holiness and give glory to your name.
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