Gospel Reflection for
The Fifth Sunday of Easter
Fast Food vs Sistine Ceiling
In the modern world, we are trained to have a “right now” mentality: fast food, around-the-clock help-desks, overnight delivery, Internet shopping, 24-hour gas stations…we have a mental and emotional habit of expecting results “right now.”
But Jesus taught us so often that the Kingdom of God, our transformation in Christ, is like a mustard seed, that takes time to grow, a farmer’s field, that only gradually produces its crop, a diligent merchant, who spends years and years searching for the pearl of great price.
Michelangelo worked full-time for four years painting the Sistine Ceiling. And the whole time he was working, Pope Julius II was pressuring him to finish, to work faster and faster. But Michelangelo, though he worked long and hard hours, even painting by lantern-light late into the night, lying on his back on top of rickety scaffolding, refused to rush his masterpiece; he refused to compromise the quality of his work; he explained to the Pope that if he wanted excellence, it would take time.
From the Pope’s perspective, four years seemed too long to wait. But it was nothing compared to the 500 years that have passed by since, during which the incomparable masterpiece has inspired literally millions of men and women from every corner of the world.
God is like that with us.
He is the great artist of our souls.
He refuses to compromise the quality of his work in our lives.
To us it seems like he is taking a long time, and we argue with him. But he knows what he’s doing, and when we see his masterpieces (our souls) in the light of eternity, we will not be disappointed.
(From ePriest, April 2024)