DAILY- HOMILY

July 23, 2017 SUNDAY - 16th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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Wis 12: 13, 16- 19 / Rom 8: 26 - 27 I Mt 13: 24- 43

GOSPEL READING:           Mt 13: 24- 33

     Jesus told them another parable, "The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and left.

     "When the plants sprouted and produced grain, the weeds also appeared. Then the servants of the owner came to him and said, 'Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? Where did the weeds come from?'

     "He answered them, 'This is the work of the enemy.' They asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?' He told them, 'No, when you pull up the weeds, you might uproot the wheat with them. Let them just grow together until harvest; and at harvest time I will say to the workers: Pull up the weeds first, tie them in bundles and burn them; then gather the wheat into my barn."'

     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 other 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 which a woman took and buried in three measures of flour until the whole mass of dough began to rise."

REFLECTION

     "What is the kingdom of God?" the followers and listeners asked Jesus. A

seemingly simple question, but complicated to define and answer.

     In today's Gospel reading Jesus gives various parables, various analogies to illustrate the kingdom of God: as a field of wheat and weeds, as mustard seed growing into a mighty plant, as yeast enriching flour.

     The parable of weeds sown by the enemy among good seed of wheat tells us that there are righteous and evil people, living together, side by side. The owner of the fields cautions about pulling up the weeds prematurely as the good wheat could also be pulled out with them. Better to wait till harvest time to sort out the wheat harvest from the weeds. Clearly this alludes to judgment day when the righteous and the evil ones would be judged and separated.

     Who would imagine that a tiny mustard seed would grow into a large bush, almost a tree, which could host birds? Or how does yeast leaven a whole batch of flour into healthy bread? Jesus highlights how small things can produce great results and benefits.

     What is the kingdom of heaven? Not a place, it is when goodness and righteousness reign over evil and selfishness. Even through small acts of kindness, we contribute to building up this kingdom of love which is here and now and yet still to find fulfillment.

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!

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