From small beginnings come great endings – 17th week in ordinary time – Mt 13:31-35
Chapter 13 of the Gospel according to Matthew is the third of the five blocks of teaching found in this Gospel. This block of teaching is called the ‘Parable Discourse’ and consists of seven parables. Matthew who is the great systematiser of Jesus’ teachings arranges his material in numbers of three or seven. There are seven articles in the Lord’s prayer, seven demons in 12:45, seven loaves in 15:34, seven baskets of scraps left over, seven brothers in 22:25, seven woes against the Pharisees in chapter 23 and we are asked to forgive seventy times seven.
We are now in the third of the seven parables of the kingdom found in chapter 13 and already one has seen that the kingdom of God cannot be boxed into a set of predictable characteristics for it is ‘this and much more’. While the previous parable of the weed and wheat reminds us that the kingdom will face opposition, Jesus also gives us parables of hope for the Kingdom of God will also expand despite opposition.
Today’s readings contain two parables of expansion of the kingdom; one outward (the mustard seed) and one inward (the parable of the yeast). While the parable of the mustard seed reminds us that even a tiny seed like the mustard can explode into the greatest of shrubs for all to see, the parable of the yeast reminds us that the kingdom can grow silently inward, like yeast that is mixed in flour.
From small beginnings come great endings, this is what we are reminded of today. While the example of the mustard seed is obvious the parable of the yeast may not be so. At the time of Jesus, leaven rather than the tided English translation, yeast, was used to prove bread. Leaven was a rotting, moulding lump of bread which was mixed into three measures of flour, enough to feed a hundred people.
Fr. Warner D'Souza is a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Bombay. He has served in the parishes of St Michael's (Mahim), St Paul's (Dadar East), Our Lady of Mount Carmel, (Bandra), a ten year stint as priest-in-charge at St Jude Church (Malad East) and at present is the Parish Priest at St Stephen's Church (Cumballa Hill). He is also the Director of the Archdiocesan Heritage Museum and is the co-ordinator of the Committee for the Promotion and Preservation of the Artistic and Historic Patrimony of the Church.
Hello father, I like your relections very much.
You are a blessed priest tying your very best to break the word of God in the most simpler form. Today’s parable you have explained in two dimensions , which is more clear to grow inwardly and outwardly. lastly the last para is the High light of all.
Thank you regards.
Thank you Fr. This reflection gives hope, that as much as the church & it’s people are persecuted, that even though a bad seed is added in the good seed, our church will grow, it will flourish, our people will return. There will be change. Our living God will be glorified, praised & worshipped forever
Thank you Fr. Warner and I do believe there is evil in our world. Mockery was made of the Last Supper at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics in Paris. We will ask forgiveness, make reparation and pray. In spite of the evil culture, the Kingdom of God will expand because as you say God’s ways are not our ways The Kingdom will grow in hidden ways like the mustard seed and leven. The evil one will never win.
God bless you for your teachings.
Re Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony 2024
Jesus came down to earth to live among us not to condemn but to save us from death.
France you were so Catholic at one time. “Come back to Me” says the Lord. Be careful of our modern secular culture.
“Repent and Believe in the Gospel of Jesus – the Kingdom of God is near”.
In the meantime, we the world over, Repent, beg God’s forgiveness for hurting Him and others and make reparation.
NOTE I do not have addresses or know who to address so I put the above to the public on fb
This is an email I sent to: [email protected]
Dear Mr. President and IOC members
Re: Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony 2024 – Mockery/Blasphemy of our Lord’s Last Supper
I am deeply distressed at what was depicted at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics.
I have reflected and reminded myself and would like to remind you as well that:
Jesus came down to earth to live among us not to condemn but to save us from death – sin.
France you remember what God says: “I Am the Lord your God, you shall have no other gods before Me …”
So be aware and careful of our post modern secular culture that leads one astray.
France you were so Catholic at one time. “Come back to Me” says the Lord.
“Repent and Believe in the Gospel of Jesus – the Kingdom of God is near”.
“The man who follows Me will not walk in darkness but he will have the Light of Life for his guide”
(Jn.8:12)
In the meantime, we the world over, Repent, Beg God’s forgiveness for hurting Him his Infinite Goodness and others, and make Reparation.
Peace and All Good
Mary DeCruz, fmm
(Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
Karachi – Pakistan