A Homily on Lk. 21:5 – 11 :  God Does Not Work Immediately (25-11-25)

 A homily on Lk. 21:5 to 11 showing that God works in His own time and nothing happens immediately.(25-11-25)

Praise be to Jesus Christ

A young boy once planted a bamboo seed. Every morning, he watered it. Every evening, he checked the soil. Days passed. Months passed. There was no sign of even a small sprout. The boy became sad and told his grandfather it is not growing I think the seed is dead. The grandfather smiled and said, “Some things grow slowly, but they grow strong. Not everything happens immediately. When the right time comes, it will rise”.

Later the bamboo shot up so fast that the boy could not believe it. What grew hidden for years became tall in a short time. The grandfather said this is how God works. He moves slowly but surely.

This simple story touches a very quiet word in today’s Gospel. Jesus says the end will not come immediately in Lk. 21:9. He is not only speaking about the end of the world. He is speaking about the way God acts. God does not rush, God does not run and God works in His own time which is always the right time.

Our problem is we want everything immediately. We want our prayers answered today. We want our family problems solved tonight. We want our sickness healed this very moment. When we face trouble we ask God why are you slow. But Jesus reminds us that God is never slow, but He is steady.

If we look at the Old Testament we see this again and again. God promised Abraham a child in Gen. 15:5 but the promise did not come immediately. Abraham waited many years and finally Isaac was born in Gen. 21:1 to 3. That child became a blessing for every generation. When the people of Israel were in Egypt crying for freedom in Ex. 2:23 God did not rescue them immediately. He first shaped Moses as we see in Ex. 3 and Ex. 4. And when the time was ready God opened the Red Sea in Ex. 14:21 and made a dry path.

In our families also we see this truth. A child may take time to change. A relationship may take time to heal. A person may take time to overcome anger and addiction. God works slowly inside hearts just like the bamboo growing under the soil. What we cannot see does not mean nothing is happening.

A saint once said the greatest work of God in the soul is usually silent and gentle. This is why Jesus tells the disciples not to be terrified when troubles come in Lk. 21:9. The stones may fall, the world may shake and our feelings may rise and fall. But God is still working even when we cannot feel Him. His timing is perfect.

Sometimes in religious life we wish for quick answers. We want instant peace instant clarity instant holiness. But God shapes a person slowly. A potter does not complete a pot in one minute. He turns it again and again on the wheel. In the same way God shapes our heart. No holiness comes immediately. It comes with patience and surrender.

So when Jesus says the end will not come immediately in Lk. 21:9 He is teaching us to trust His timing. Nothing in your life is forgotten or wasted. The prayer you prayed years ago is still alive. The tear you shed is still seen by God. The seed you planted in faith will rise one day. God delays only to give something deeper and stronger. Let us ask for patient hearts that wait with trust.

 Lord teach me to trust your time in my life.

⇒If you find this reflection meaningful and fruitful, please share it with others

The Team Search offers retreats, reflections, and classes for religious and others on various biblical themes, the Eucharist, prayer, spiritual direction, Missiology, English phonetics (basic & advanced), Mariology, the Sacraments, the Desert Fathers, and more. We are happy to assist you if you find it hard to get a resource person for any Christian topic.

♦Contact: thesearch1994@gmail.com

God Bless…