There was a story about three brothers who left home for college and were successful in their chosen fields.  Some years later, they discussed the gifts they could give their elderly mother, celebrating her 95^th birthday.  They wanted to impress relatives and close family friends who would have the best gift.

The first said, “I will give Mom the latest model of Cadillac with a driver.”

The second said, “I had a hundred-thousand-dollar theater built in the house.”

The third said, “You know how Mom loved reading the Bible, and you know she can’t read anymore because she can’t see very well. There is a parrot that can recite the entire Bible. It took twenty preachers 12 years to teach him. The parrot cost 150,000. Mom will just name the chapter and verse, and the parrot will recite it.”

A month later, their mom wrote them a note:

“She wrote: “Milton, the car is comfortable. But I do not have the energy to go places. I prefer to say home. Besides, the driver you sent me was very rude. Thanks anyway.”

“Michael, you gave me an expensive theater with Dolby Sound, but all my friends are dead; I’ve lost my hearing and am nearly blind. I’ll never use it. Thank you for the gesture just the same.”

“Dearest Melvin, you have the good sense to consider your gift. The chicken was delicious. Thank you. 

Joy is kept in the inner core of the heart, the simplicity and purity of our intention.

 In contrast to that popularity and extravagance, the parable of the yeast invites us to reflect on the hiddenness of God.   Jesus said, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal.”  

Henri Nouwen, a famous spiritual writer) depicts a God who “Prefers to work in secret”  God wants to work unnoticed because, for God, it is the act and the intention itself that matters, not what the world knows or thinks about it.

The joy of God’s kingdom is hidden in grief.  Go come share with our friends who are grieving. Strength is hidden in weakness and illness. Richness is hidden in poverty of spirit, and lowliness. Go and attend to our poor brothers and sisters.  Christ is there in humility, so do not impress people with what you have. Have time to discover Christ in the simplicity of life.

These are all God’s hiding places that we often do not like to explore.  These all considered the areas where there is poverty in spirit, but God’s presence is felt. We can be that presence to others as well. Our gift of presence, like the leaven, assists others in their growth and transformation in Christ.

Pope Joh Paul II visited a prison many years ago and celebrated mass there. He greeted each prisoner with fraternal affection and told them he stood before them as a witness of God’s love. Pope John Paul reechoed to the prisoners that God loves them and wants them to follow a path of rehabilitation, forgiveness, truth, and justice. With the help of the prison staff and the prayers and support of the entire community, the prisoners will be enriched by a spiritual dimension, which is most important in life

Like the joy of the mother who sees joy from a chicken hidden in a very expensive parrot, the joy of God is hidden in the core of our hearts. The hiddenness of God is not in the grandeur of things but in the ordinariness of life. It is available and accessible to all who believe.  What is needed is purity of heart.  As Christ says, the pure in heart are blessed, for they will see God.