Reflection for Monday, 17th week in the ordinary time

Today's Word

By


Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore

Mathew 13:31-32

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”


Today's Reflection

Today's 1st Reading Tells Us that GOD Gave Moses 2 Tablets of the Covenant. The Tablets were the Work of GOD, & the Writing was the Writing of GOD, Engraved Upon the Tablets.

Maybe that is where that phrase "written on stone" comes from. As such it also means that to break any of the 10 Commandments would be a serious offence.

But when Moses came down from the mountain and saw what the people did, he literally broke all the 10 Commandments at one go when he threw down and broke them at the foot of the mountain.

To break one Commandment is considered a serious sin, so when Moses broke the two tablets, he was showing the seriousness of the sin of the people.

But sin is not usually committed in leaps and bounds. It is usually progressive, as in it begins with a small sin and then when left unchecked it becomes bigger and bigger until it becomes a serious sin.

If that can be said of sin, the same can be said of virtue.

Today's Gospel Passage Tells Us that the Point of the Parable of the Mustard Seed is the Contrast It Points Out between the Tiny Seed & the Large Tree which Results from It. The Point is made again in the Parable of the Yeast. Both These Parables Give Us a Message that Small Beginnings Lead to a Mighty End.

In the gospel, Jesus used the parables of the mustard seed and the leaven to teach about the kingdom of heaven.

The growth of virtue is similar. When we choose to do a little good, that is one step toward growth in the kingdom of heaven.

And every time we choose to obey the 10 Commandments, we too grow in virtue and obedience to God and help others to walk in the Lord's ways.


Today's Saints

Sts. Joachim and Anne

According to Protoevangelium Jacobi, Mary was Born to Her Parents in Their Old Age as a Gift from GOD for Their Fervent & Persistent Prayer for a Child. Mary’s Parents Offered Her to the Temple, & as It was the Custom, She was Entrusted to the Custody of Pious Widows who Assisted the Priests in the Temple Worship. They Taught Mary the Prayers, Hymns, Psalms, & Services in the Temple Until She Became a Teenager. Her Parents then Gave Her in Marriage to St. Joseph, the Carpenter. St. Joachim & St. Anne Continued Their Lives of Prayer Until GOD Called Them Home to Heaven. They Transmitted to Mary & Helped Her Develop All Her Good Qualities, like Trust in GOD'S Providence, Humility, Love of the WORD of GOD, & a Spirit of Committed & Loving Service. They Faithfully Performed Their Duties, Practiced Their Faith & Established an Atmosphere for the Coming of the Messiah, but Remained Obscure.

GOD BLESS YOU 

Good morning. Have a great day.

HAPPY FEAST OF ST. JOACHIM N ANNE