it is the smallest of all the seeds

July 31, 2017 6:00 am

“The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.” (MT 13: 31-32)

It is good to be “the smallest” and to put my trust in Him, who knows me perfectly and will make me whom I should be—“full-grown.” Our lives are meant to serve others who “will dwell in our branches.” Our maturity is expressed by the gift of self. 

“The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

I give you a heart so wise and understanding

July 30, 2017 6:00 am

“Because you have asked for this—not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right—I do as you requested. I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you.” (1 KGS 3: 11-12)

“The heart so wise and understanding” is a gift of God. We should pray for this kind of heart “so that you may know what is right.” When we pray for this, it is pleasing to God because Our Lord knows how difficult our lives can be and how desperately we need to know “what is right.” 

“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; for you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

We will do everything that the Lord has told us

July 29, 2017 6:00 am

“When Moses came to the people and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD,  they all answered with one voice, ‘We will do everything that the LORD has told us.’” (EX 24: 3) 

We’ll be happy to answer the same way: “we will do everything that the LORD has told us” because we know that He is “the light of the world” and that “whoever follows Him will have the light of life.” 

“I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.” 

who hears the word and understands it

July 28, 2017 6:00 am

“But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” (MT 13: 23)

Little Therese from Lisieux used to say that if she could, she would study Greek and Hebrew to read the Bible in its original languages to understand it better. She knew how important it is not only to “hear” the word but also to “understand” it. But “understand” doesn’t mean “study.” It means first of all—to understand the message given by God, who Is Love, that whatever He said is meant for me to understand as God wants me to understand it, to help me grow in love for Him and to go to Heaven.  And second—how our One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church understands it. In one word it means: keep “the word with a generous heart.” 

“Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Blessed are your eyes

July 27, 2017 6:00 am

“But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” (MT 13: 16-17)

This fragment is called “the Privilege of Discipleship,” but it is not only about the first disciples; this is also about us because Our Lord “is the same yesterday and today and forever” (HBR 13: 1). We need these “blessed eyes and ears” to see and hear the bright sides of our spouses, all the efforts given by them—there will be more gratitude and respect in our hearts. “The little ones” are always grateful for all they receive. 

“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.” 

He spoke to them at length in parables

July 26, 2017 7:46 am

“On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying…” (MT 13: 1-3)

Our Lord is always “out of the house” to be where we are: “by the sea,” in villages, in cities or in our hearts. And he speaks in our language, using words and examples from our own world, because He “is the sower” and “the seed is the word of God.” And He wants us to “live forever.” 

“The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; All who come to him will live for ever.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave

July 25, 2017 6:00 am

“Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (MT 20: 26-28) 

We don’t like to be slaves. We “wish to be great among others.” But there is no other way if we want to be like Our Lord, who “did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” How happy are couples who understand this message. Where there is a fight for “my rights,” “my space” or “my privacy,” there is always the beginning of a crisis (at least). Where there is a gift of self, there is always Him and His grace and protection. 

“I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

there is something greater than Jonah here

July 24, 2017 6:00 am

“At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here.” (MT 12: 41) 

Our Lord wants us to turn to God in genuine repentance because repentance is a change of heart and mind that brings us closer to God. It is putting God in first place; it is following our vocation given by Him and loving Him and others with our whole heart. When we “hear His voice,” we know where to put our hearts. 

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

with much lenience you govern us

July 23, 2017 6:00 am

“But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency, and with much lenience you govern us; for power, whenever you will, attends you.” (WIS 12: 18) 

A description of Our Lord: “though you are master of might, judge with clemency, and with much lenience govern us.” He always protects, always cares, and always loves, focused on our growth, not on our falls.

“Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” 

July 22, 2017 6:00 am

“Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?’ She thought it was the gardener and said to him, ‘Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni,’ which means Teacher.” (JN 20: 15-16)

Mary recognized Jesus when He called her by her name. Our Lord knows our names and always calls us by our names. We are not a group, a crowd or an anonymous people; we are His beloved children. Probably in every marriage spouses called themselves by “nicknames,” names which are only for them, which, apart from their meanings, carry emotions, memories and mutual love. When Jesus calls us, He calls us by our true names, which meanings probably we will fully recognize only in Heaven. 

“Tell us, Mary, what did you see on the way? I saw the glory of the risen Christ, I saw his empty tomb.” (Gospel Acclamation)