I’ve come to love Psalm 1. But for some reason, this morning I noticed something I don’t remember ever paying attention to before.

“In due season.”

The Psalm tells us that the person who delights in God’s law is like a tree planted near running water, bearing fruit in due season. It even goes on to say that whatever he does prospers.

I’ve read this Psalm many times, but I don’t remember ever stopping to think about those three words.

In due season.

That doesn’t mean everything goes right today, does it? The fruit comes in due season. God’s season, not necessarily ours.

And what is God’s law asking of us? Well, just yesterday in the Gospel, Jesus reminded us of the two greatest commandments: love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and love our neighbor as ourselves.

Then today, St. Paul takes that a little further. He tells us to be imitators of God, as beloved children, and to live in love as Christ loved us. He also calls us to live as children of light.

So we’re called to love God, love our neighbor, and imitate Christ. And like that tree, trust that the fruit will come in God’s time.

But that got me thinking about something we all wonder from time to time. Why do bad things happen to good people? And why do good things sometimes happen to bad people?

I don’t know the answer. But then I came back to something else Paul said.

Christ loved us and handed Himself over as a sacrificial offering to God. Not just for those who follow His commandments perfectly. For all of us.

In a way, aren’t we all prodigal sons and daughters? We wander away from God, sometimes without even realizing it. Yet He continues to love us and calls us back to Him.

Even us.

And that brought me to today’s Gospel.

Jesus encounters a woman who has been bent over for eighteen years. He heals her, and she immediately stands up straight and glorifies God.

I couldn’t help but think about how we’re all a little bent over ourselves. Not physically like this woman, but spiritually. Like the prodigal son, we’ve all wandered away from God and need His help to stand up straight again.

And what does the woman do when Jesus heals her? She glorifies God!

That’s what I hope we can do, too. Allow Christ to touch our hearts, straighten us up, and help us live as children of light.

And maybe, by trying to imitate Christ in the way we live, someone else might see His light shining through us. Maybe they’ll turn toward Jesus, allow Him to touch their hearts, stand up straight, and glorify God.

Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

So my prayer today is that God helps me remain rooted in Him, love Him and my neighbor, and follow His commandments. That when I wander, I turn back toward Him, allow Him to straighten me up, and live as a child of light so others might see Christ through me.

Where have you wandered from God, and are you willing to let Him bring you back and help you stand up straight?

I pray you get the graces you need today.

Keep up the good fight.

I’m praying for you. Please pray for me.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:32–5:8 | Psalm 1:1–2, 3, 4 and 6 | Luke 13:10–17

Yesterday’s Gospel: Matthew 22:34–40