Do the herbalists and landscape technicians who have to mow the lawns and grasslands, once again and more than usual in this rainy and sometimes sun-drenched spring, suspect that they are verifying a constant on God’s part? Yes, grass inevitably grows, especially under such and such climatic effects. How much more is God’s action certain and assured, even irremediable, whatever the life of our world shows us today!

In his^2nd letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul bears witness to this assurance, while he is constantly frustrated by the challenges of certain “competitors in the apostolate” who are not afraid to remind him of his attitude towards Christians before his conversion. And one wonders if they really believe and recognize it, or if they don’t consider it an impossibility on God’s part!

Faced with this, St Paul reveals the attitude that could be exemplary of every disciple:

1) Whatever happens, St Paul trusts in God: “Yes, we trust,” he says!

2) He is not naïve in the face of society… It’s just that his only desire is no longer for human success, and even less for the glories of this earth, but to “remain close to the Lord”. This is done on earth through faith and charity, while avoiding sin of course. This will be fully accomplished once the last door has been passed.

3) The only ambition that motivates him in this world is to “please the Lord” in everything he does… without being seduced by human flattery, failures or rebuffs.

You might say that the Christian life has become a real obstacle course, and certainly not one to be taken lightly. Indeed, completely removed from the world in which the disciple lives. This would be to forget the observation made by St Mark in the finale of today’s Gospel, where Christ spoke to all the interlocutors in a parable. Christ indeed taught everyone (this is well noted)… but on the other hand, he “explained everything to his disciples, in particular”; his disciples, that is, not all the others who after hearing went home, but those who drew close to Him to receive from Him what only He could give: the life of God, which is called “charity” and closeness to Him! “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” said St James in his letter (quoting a prophet).

What a grace it is to be introduced to the Father through a special dialogue with the Son, perfectly suited to the disciple who is drawing closer, in this communion that is as personal as it is fraternal, in Trinitarian life.

Do we want to come closer and enter into what God wants us to see and taste?