DAILY- HOMILY

July 28, 2014
Monday 17th Week in Ordinary Time

Jer 13: 1-11 / Dt 32: 18-19, 20, 21 / Mt 13: 31-35

Reading: Jer 13: 1-11
This is what Yahweh said to me: "Go! Buy your-self a linen belt and put it around your waist; do not put it in water." So I bought the belt as Yahweh ordered and put it around my waist. The word of Yahweh came to me a second time, "Take the belt you bought, the one you put around your waist, and go to the torrent Perah; hide it there in a hole in the rock." I went and hid it as Yahweh instructed me. After many days Yahweh said to me, "Go to the torrent Perah and get the belt I ordered you to hide there." I went to the torrent and dug up the belt but it was ruined and good for nothing, and Yahweh said to me, "In this way I will destroy the pride and great glory of Judah, this wicked people who refuse to heed what I say, this stubborn people who go after other gods to serve and worship them. And they shall become like this belt which is now good for nothing. For just as a belt is to be bound around a man's waist so was the people of Israel and Judah bound to me - it is Yahweh who speaks - to be my people, my glory and my honor; but they would not listen.   

Gospel: Matthew 13: 31-35
Jesus put another parable before them, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, that a man took and sowed in his field. It is smaller than all other seeds, but once it has fully grown, it is bigger than any garden plant; like a tree, the birds come and rest in its branches." He told them another parable, "The kingdom of heaven is like the yeast that a woman took and buried in three measures of flour until the whole mass of dough began to rise." Jesus taught all this to the crowds by means of parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So what the Prophet had said was fulfilled: I will speak in parables. I will proclaim things kept secret since the beginning of the world.

Reflection:
     From little things come great things. With the parable of the mustard seed, Jesus shows us that the Kingdom of God begins or starts in little steps, but it must be seen, it must be visible and noticed in the world. It must spread, be fruitful like a tree giving shade to the birds and protecting them with its foliage. We believers must show through our love the signs of the kingdom; sign of peace, love and forgiveness. Jesus also said, "Let your light shine" We must not enclose ourselves like ghettoes but spread out our goodness to be useful to the people.
     Every baker sees the usefulness of yeast in baking bread. Yeast is given as an example for the growth of the Kingdom. By living the gospel values, we spread goodness, peace, love. By sharing love with others, we increase goodness and we multiply it. "Yeast transforms human history by infusing into human activity the spirit which gives life to humankind (CCB)........."
     Are we this little mustard seed? Do we make this mustard seed grow in our homes, schools, and work places? "Let your light shine that they may see your good works and give glory to the Father," and others will do the same. Then, they will say-  "There is the Kingdom." Where there is love, there is God.

Prayer Requests:
We pray ...
... for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn
... for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary
... for families who are in need of healing
... for world peace and reconciliation

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following:

  +================================================+
   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
   |            http://www.marythequeen.org
   |  Distributed free and for personal use only. 
  +================================================+