Fertile and Fruitful

Welcome to Word for the Week, the series in which I:

share my experience of hearing God’s Word in Mass last weekend,
explore what I believe the Lord is calling me to do about that Word, and
ask how this Word might impact your life, as well.

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Last week I entered Mass with a specific problem on my mind. Do you ever do that? An ongoing conversation with someone I'm close with was really hurting my heart. The words "fertile and fruitful" from the first reading (Isaiah 55:10-11), settled over me like a soothing balm on a wound.

I asked the Lord what to do about that Word this week.

"Fertile and fruitful" seemed to be an invitation to trust God with the outcome of my dilemma. The issue at hand had to do with my motivation about a family issue. If it hurt to be accused of selfish intentions, why not trust God to bring the truth to light?

That meant that I needed to pray about a number of inter-personal issues this week. I needed to pray with trust and not doubt. Trust that God was working through me, trust that He will produce good fruit. God's word made the difference between worry and praise.

Sometimes people mistake my confidence for pride. And I can be very prideful. Pride is the shadow side of my strongest attributes. But my personality and my black culture also influence the way that I express myself! Sometimes my deeply emotive nature, fostered and encouraged by my black culture, is misinterpreted by others both within and outside of that culture. 

I named my confidence aloud this week. I made sure my intentions were heard. And you know what? People listened. They chose to be open minded. But they wouldn't have known what was on my heart had I not lifted my voice authentically and boldly.

The Blessed Virgin Mary shows me what true confidence looks like. She acknowledges God's presence and she names it aloud! In the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth (Luke chapter 1), she even sings in praise for blessings that will come about in herself!

I'm including a photo of a print that hangs in our dining room. This depiction of Mary and Elizabeth beautifully connects the Gospel story with my black culture. This work of art (by my friend Autumn Irlbeck) helps me to be confident that fertility and fruitfulness are gifts to be celebrated in others and in myself. 

How is God calling you to think, pray, and act with confidence today?

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