Seeds of Eternity

MaryAnn McKibben Dana writes about Jean Vanier who is the founder of the L’Arche communities. L’Arrche nurtures people with mental disabilities and their caregivers so that together they can live in dignity. “This kind of community”, Vanier says, “is only… created when its members accept that they are not going to achieve great things, that they are not going to be heroes.’” He goes on to say that, “God put in a finite body the seeds of eternity which are visible in small and daily gestures of love and forgiveness.”

The seeds of eternity are visible in small and daily gestures of love and forgiveness.

Mother Theresa once said, “We can do no great things, only small things with great love. It’s not how much you do, but how much love you put into doing it.”

Author Shane Claiborne lives in an intentional Christian community in inner-city Philadelphia, where they share a lot of ministry with the urban poor and homeless. They often have people stop by their house to ask for help. As you can imagine, sometimes that gets old. So, they put this sign above the door that can be read only from the inside, “Today… Small things with great love, or don’t answer the door.” Small things… with great love.

Let us pray: Loving God, we remember that Jesus said that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. It starts small, inconspicuous. It began in a manger, in an impoverished backwater of the Roman Empire, and it is spread through tiny seeds of compassion, healing, love, hospitality. That really, for those who have eyes to see – it’s already here happening quietly, behind the scenes. Give us eyes to notice, and a willing spirit to join in. Amen.