Gospel Reflection 2020/2021

Jesus teaches using parables. Parables are short and simple stories of day-to-day familiar experiences, used by Jesus, to teach and reveal God’s marvelous truth.

In the Gospel reading of the 11^th Sunday in the Ordinary Time, Jesus likens the Kingdom of God to a tiny mustard seed. The size of a mustard seed is about 1~2mm, smaller than the size of a sesame seed. Tiny, ordinary, insignificant, unspectacular, unattractive and boring as it maybe, a mustard seed has the hidden potential to grow into the biggest shrub.

What can a mustard seed teach us about faith and life?

(1) The Kingdom of God is here and now.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI explains that the Kingdom of God is Jesus Christ Himself. Where Christ is, there is the Kingdom of God. When we enthrone Jesus in our heart, in our mind and in our life, the Kingdom of God resides within us. Since Jesus is also truly and really present in the Church, therefore the Church is the tangible sign of the Kingdom of God here on earth.

Yes, the Kingdom of God is here and now in our midst. But it is we who are often blind to the Kingdom of God and miss it because we tend to chase after the massive, the extraordinary, the rhetoric, the spectacular, the attractive and the exciting.

The seed is the word of God, Christ is the Sower; whoever finds this seed will remain forever [cf. Mt 13: 1-9]. May we be able to recognize Jesus and His Kingdom here and now, in us and in our midst.

(2) God chooses ordinary people to do His extraordinary work.

Willed and designed by God, that tiny little mustard seed encapsulates the power and mystery of life. Likewise, we maybe small and insignificant as compared to others, yet we are infused with great potentials.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta beautifully puts it that, “Not all of us are called to do great things, but all of us can do small things with great love.”

A short prayer, a sweet smile, a simple word of encouragement or a small act of kindness is precious in the eyes of God if we do it with love. Every tiny little seed of faith, hope and love that we sow – will definitely sprout, grow and bear fruits – not in our time but in God’s time.

(3) Submission to Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.

Jesus Christ is the King of the Universe. To belong to His Kingdom, we must proclaim and profess that Jesus is the King of our heart, our mind and our life.

The popes come and go, the priests come and go, lay leaders come and go, politicians come and go, empires come and go…; but Jesus and His Holy Church remain forever.

Our life motivation must be like that of St Paul’s [2 Co 5: 6-10], “Whether we are living in this body or exiled from it, we are intent on pleasing the Lord.” Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Eternal King whom we must adore, worship, love and serve.

The parable of the mustard seed teaches us that we must have:

(1) great passion in the seeking of Jesus Christ and His kingdom in the ordinariness of our life,

(2) active participation in the building up of the Kingdom of God here and now,

(3) holy patience and perseverance in sowing the seeds of faith, hope and love.

Let our fervent prayer be:

“Lord Jesus Christ, let Your Kingdom of justice, peace, truth and love be established here in our midst!”