GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Luke 13:18-21

Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like?

To what can I compare it?

It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.

When it was fully grown, it became a large bush

and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”

Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?

It is like yeast that a woman took

and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour

until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”

The Word of the Lord

 

Called to Grow

Do we want to change the world? It all begins with something small. Just as a tiny seed grows into a great tree, so the Lord desires our marriage to grow: through daily effort and small acts of love which, though they may seem insignificant, gradually transform our hearts.

A small loving glance, a small sacrifice, a small act of self-denial, a small gesture of mutual giving… It is in these little moments that we are truly sowing the seeds of something far greater. At first, it may seem as though nothing is happening, as though there is no fruit, but we must be patient and trust.

As with the seed or the yeast, our mission is to sow, to give of ourselves, and to allow God to bring about the growth in love. It is not about achieving great things through our own strength, but about placing our small acts in His hands, persevering in prayer, and allowing Him to work in us and in our marriage, even when we do not always see the fruits of His work.

For every act carried out in love bears fruit. Perhaps not the fruit we expect, nor at the time we would choose, but the fruit that God knows we need.

 

Applied to Married Life

Freddy: After these 43 years of marriage, I look back and see how much the Lord has helped us. Who would have thought that the little seed we planted all those years ago would bear so much fruit!

Megan: Oh, Freddy, how fortunate we are! The Lord has cared for us from the very beginning. Although we have also had to care for our marriage ourselves, through many acts of self-denial, small sacrifices and, above all, a great deal of prayer, so that we never lost sight of what truly matters.

Freddy: Absolutely, Megan. But I must tell you that I am the fortunate one for having you by my side. You look after me like an angel, and when I look at our children and those grandchildren who bring such joy to our lives, my heart is filled with happiness. Who would have thought that all those prayers and small acts of self-giving would lead to this? I can only thank God for everything, for the good times and for the less good ones as well.

Megan: Do you know what I say to that? All those prayers, sacrifices and little acts of mutual self-giving have helped our love to grow, almost without us realising it, and now they help us face these times of trial. But I must say, you are quite mistaken: I am the one who has come out on top! You say that you have an angel, but I have ended up with the greatest archangel of all, and that’s you!

 

Mother,

May we know how to wait and pray, giving thanks for all the fruits that the Lord gives us. Blessed and praised be the Lord!