HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II. 27.07.2020.

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Mustard Seed
Readings: Jeremiah 13:1-11; Psalm 32 and Matthew 13:31-35. 


GOD’S KINGDOM ON EARTH

 

Today’s liturgy takes our mind back to the gospel of last two Sundays of which Christ speaks to us in parables comparing the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed and the leaven. Through these parables, Christ wants us to understand that we are part of his project in establishing and developing his kingdom here on earth.

 

Christ compared the kingdom of heaven to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, he said, “It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown, it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air comes and make nests in its branches.” Christ wants us to understand the transforming nature of the seed, its process of germinating and becoming a tree, it is a seed with humble beginning and later exaltation. The process of its growth could be slow but steadfast. Similarly, Christ is using the mustard seed to teach us of our impact in the field. The field is the world we live in, we are the seed planted in the world, it is expected of us to germinate and bear good fruit that will give life to other.

 

Again, Christ compared the kingdom of heaven to a leaven, otherwise known as yeast, “which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.” Just like the mustard seed, he wants us to understand the transforming nature of the leaven. Those that have the knowledge of baking would understand better the importance of leaven or yeast while baking as it helps in fermentation and expansion of the flour. We do not expect the same result for flour (mass) with leaven and flour without leaven while baking. The leaven or yeast that appears insignificant has a great power of transforming the flour to a greater size. In view of this, Christ wants us to understand that his followers has the capacity to transform the world. We have the capacity to influence the world with virtues despite the multiples evil occurring on daily bases. However, for us to transform and influence the world, we need first transform ourselves to conform with the person of Christ, then there will be a gradual influence to those around us.

 

Dear friends in Christ, as the leaven work silently until the flour is fermented and expanded, so too we as Christians should be silently active in our day-to-day activities. The moment we conform ourselves to the teachings of Christ, of being the mustard seed planted in the world and the leaven to transform and influence the world with virtues, then we can say we are collaborating in the project of Christ to establish his kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. It is our prayer that the world will not influence us but we should be the ones to influence the world through Christ our Lord. Amen! Peace be with you!

 

Fr. Ken Dogbo, OSJ

Location: Papalanto, Nigeria

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