First reading Romans 8:18-25
The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons
I think that what we suffer in this life can never be compared to the glory, as yet unrevealed, which is waiting for us. The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons. It was not for any fault on the part of creation that it was made unable to attain its purpose, it was made so by God; but creation still retains the hope of being freed, like us, from its slavery to decadence, to enjoy the same freedom and glory as the children of God. From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth; and not only creation, but all of us who possess the first-fruits of the Spirit, we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be set free. For we must be content to hope that we shall be saved – our salvation is not in sight, we should not have to be hoping for it if it were – but, as I say, we must hope to be saved since we are not saved yet – it is something we must wait for with patience.
Responsorial Psalm 125(126)
What marvels the Lord worked for us.
When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage,
it seemed like a dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
on our lips there were songs.
The heathens themselves said: ‘What marvels
the Lord worked for them!’
What marvels the Lord worked for us!
Indeed we were glad.
Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage
as streams in dry land.
Those who are sowing in tears
will sing when they reap.
They go out, they go out, full of tears,
carrying seed for the sowing:
they come back, they come back, full of song,
carrying their sheaves.
Gospel Luke 13:18-21
The kingdom of God is like the yeast that leavened three measures of flour
Jesus said, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it with? It is like a mustard seed which a man took and threw into his garden: it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air sheltered in its branches.’
Another thing he said, ‘What shall I compare the kingdom of God with? It is like the yeast a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour till it was leavened all through.’
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Mustard seed and yeast
As we take this passage of the mustard seed and yeast, let us not be content simply to remain at a superficial level but go deeper and be open to allow Jesus to gently lead us to grasp the more profound meaning for us today. In the gospel, Jesus tells a parable of a man throwing a tiny mustard seed into his garden. It grew and became a tree. Jesus also speaks of a woman taking yeast, mixing it with flour and causing the yeast to react and expand, thus transforming the flour into bread.
Like the tiny seed and yeast, God works powerfully through our small, ordinary actions of kindness and service to make His kingdom of love present. People might overlook our small efforts to love, but God sees and makes our actions bear fruit beyond our imagination. Today, let us never get tired of sowing seeds of God’s kingdom.
Reflective question:
Do I have eyes to see that God is at work through my daily efforts of loving?
Do I have eyes to see that God is at work through my daily efforts of loving?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.
