The Mustard Seed is the smallest seed.

"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."  (Matthew 13: 31 - 32).

The mustard seed of God's word is alive, potent and sharper than a two-edged sword even if it comes in a tiny form. The origin of Christianity bears witness to this truth. What started very small with a handful of men grew into the biggest shrub. Many "birds of the air" today shelter in its shade. Many women and men make a decent living from this huge shrub. The beginning of a project may be small but if that enterprise is God's will, it will grow.

When Peter and the Apostles were arraigned before the Sanhedrin, Gamaliel, a leading member of the Sanhedrin prophesied: "If this enterprise, this movement of theirs, is of human origin it will break up of its own accord; but if it does in fact come from God you will be unable to destroy them. " (Acts 5: 38). The history of Christianity proved that the enterprise is from God.

In the parable of the Mustard Seed, savor the truth of of small beginnings. Do not despise small beginnings.   Work of grace in the soul follows the principle of the mustard seed.  Small steps.  Small beginnings.  Silently.  Steady progress.

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Tell me, Mary, what did you see on the way?

"The Bride says:
On my bed at night I sought him
whom my heart loves — I sought him but I did not find him.
I will rise then and go about the city;
 in the streets and crossings I will seek Him whom my heart loves."  (Song of Songs 3: 1- 2).

This is the first Reading chosen today for the feast of St Mary Magdalene.  It illustrates the intense love of Mary Magdalene for Jesus.  She sought the dead among the dead and found the Risen Jesus who was waiting for her.  Jesus promised "Seek and you shall find."  ( Matthew 7: 7). Jesus rewarded her by saying to her: 
"Go to my brothers and tell them:
I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."  (John 20:  17).

And Mary responded:
"Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her."  (John 20: 18).

This made Mary Magdalene whose feast we celebrate today both the first person to see Jesus after His Resurrection and the first messenger of the Gospel.

St Mary Magdalene pray for us.

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I desire mercy, not sacrifice.

"I desire mercy, not sacrifice."  (Matthew 12: 7).

Jesus Christ brought grace and mercy.  Grace is unmerited favor.  Mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown to someone who expects or deserves punishment.  Sacrifice is working hard to cancel or eliminate a debt.   "I have done my time in prison. So leave me alone."

Jesus is the Face of Mercy of Abba Father.  Mercy is the name and essence of God the Father revealed to us through His Only Son, Jesus the Christ. The open Heart of Jesus is the symbol and seat of Mercy.  Mercy is promised to all. 

Moses brought the law.  Experience shows that even for the best of us, it is impossible to observe the law perfectly.  Jesus Christ brought grace and mercy. 

"Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy."  (Matthew 5: 7).

Learn about how to be merciful from Jesus. Learn the ABC of Mercy:

A:  Ask for Mercy. 
B:  Be Merciful. 
C:  Completely Trust Jesus for Mercy.

Practice the Spiritual Works of Mercy:

1.Instruct the ignorant
2.Counsel the doubtful
3.Admonish sinners
4.Bear wrongs patiently
5.Forgive offences willingly
6.Comfort the afflicted
7.Pray for the living and the dead

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Come to me with your burdens and I will give you rest.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."  (Matthew 11: 28 - 30)

Gracious invitation from Christ.  But how do we come to Christ?  We come to Christ in prayer, in His word, and especially in the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Penance. 

What are the labors and burdens that we bring to Christ, the Doctor to heal?  We bring our burdens of sin.  We are overwhelmed with fears, worries and doubts about our health, family, finances, job, tools, food and the future.  We bring all these to Jesus.

How does Christ give us the promised rest?  He cancels our sins and relieves us once and for all from guilt.  Sometimes He heals our bodies and finances.  At other times, He gives us a supernatural perspective from which to view our woes.  You may call this indepth perspective therapy.  People go to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France for physical healing.  Many such people receive the indepth perspective therapy and decide to stay in Lourdes to minister to pilgrims sicker than themselves..

What yoke does Christ invite us to take upon ourselves?  The yoke of Christ is the Gospel of Christ.  The yoke of Christ is the Sermon on the Mount.  Christ Himself says that this yoke is both easy and light. John the Apostle says that to keep the commandments is not burdensome. (1 John 5:3). Paul writes of the weight of glory that awaits us after some light suffering.  (Romans 8: 18;  2 Corinthians 4: 17).

"Learn from me," pleads Christ.  Christ is the Teacher and the Lesson.  Learn to be with me.  Learn to be like me.

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I WILL BE WITH YOU!

"Now indeed the outcry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen how the Egyptians are oppressing them.  Now, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt."  (Exodus 3: 9 - 10).

After over 300 years in slavery in Egypt, God said that He was just noticing the oppression of the Israelites in Egypt.  Seriously?

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways—oracle of the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, my thoughts higher than your thoughts."  (Isaiah 55: 8 - 9).

Moreover, God does not measure time as we do:
"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day."  (2 Peter 3: 8).

The conversation of God and Moses continues:

"But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”  God answered: I will be with you."  (Exodus 3: 11-12).

When God chooses, calls and anoints you for a job, all you need as credential is:  I WILL BE WITH YOU!"

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O that today you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.

 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes."  (Matthew 11: 21).

What is it of Bethsaida and Chorazin in your life? Where is the last outpost of resistance in your relationship with Jesus? Let us do a brief examination of conscience with the First Commandment:

#1.  "I am the Lord your God:  You shall have no strange gods before me."

Do I love anybody or anything more than God?

Do I give God time everyday for prayer?  Do I seek to love him with my whole heart?  Have I been involved with superstitious practices?

Have I been involved with the occult?  Do I seek to surrender myself to God’s Word as taught by the Church?  Have I ever received Communion in a state of mortal sin?  Have I deliberately told a lie in Confession or have I withheld a mortal sin from the priest in Confession?

Turn to the Lord in your need and you will live.  (Psalm 69).

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Had the Lord not been with us, our enemies would have swallowed us alive.

"A new king, who knew nothing of Joseph, came to power in Egypt."  (Exodus 1: 8)

A new president... came to power.
A new sheriff.... came to power.
A new manager... came to power.

The above words presage dramatic changes in statusquo.
Israel had grown populous, rich and powerful in Egypt. Now things were about to change.  Had they perhaps forgotten the promise to Abraham? The Promised Land? Wealth and prosperity have their hazards.

"Accordingly, they set supervisors over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor."  (Exodus 1: 11)

God's providence has its special tools for arousing us from deep slumber.

"So the Egyptians began to loathe the Israelites.... reduced the Israelites to cruel slavery,  making life bitter for them with hard labor, at mortar and brick and all kinds of field work—cruelly oppressed in all their labor."  (Exodus 1: 12 - 14).

At last the pilgrims were ready to resume their journey to the Promised Land so that God could fulfill His promises to Abraham.

Where are you today in your Journey of Faith?

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Faith comes from hearing and obeying the word of God.

"My word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it."  (Isaiah 55: 11).

What makes the word of God so potent, so incredibly powerful? We can gain some understanding by asking:  What makes the Name of Jesus so powerful? First the Name Jesus means GOD SAVES. The Name of Jesus accomplishes what it signifies and It signifies what It accomplishes.  The Name Jesus is the power of Jesus, the person of Jesus and the presence of Jesus.

So is the word of God. It is the power of God. God is in His word. Therefore, it never fails!

"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.”  (Matthew 13: 23).

"Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls."  (James 1: 21).

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Fear God and give Him glory.

"And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna."  (Matthew 10: 28).

If Bishops fear God as they dread litigation or the IRS, what would the Church be? If priests and religious fear God as they fear traffic tickets, the Church will be growing and bearing more fruits for Jesus. The sad truth is that we all fear those who cannot and do not desire to kill the body but bark.  Why do we fear these people more than we fear the Sovereign LORD?

"Fear God!" (Revelation 14: 7).

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If they persecute Me, what do you expect?

"When the Spirit of truth comes,
he will guide you to all truth
and remind you of all I told you."  (John 16: 13;  14: 26).

What truth will the Awesome Spirit guide us to?
* The truth about Jesus, who is the Truth, the Way and Life.
*  The truth about His mission on earth, which is to found a Church, the Body of Christ, the Temple of the Holy Spirit, the Pillar and Foundation of truth.

"When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say.  For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."  (Matthew 10: 19-20).

Evangelization comes with Persecution.  If they persecute the Lord Jesus, what do you expect?  (Cf. John 15 : 20).  But do not be afraid.  The Holy Spirit will help you.

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Evangelization comes with persecution. But do not be afraid.

"When the Spirit of truth comes,
he will guide you to all truth
and remind you of all I told you."  (John 16: 13;  14: 26).

What truth will the Awesome Spirit guide us to?
* The truth about Jesus, who is the Truth, the Way and Life.
*  The truth about His mission on earth, which is to found a Church, the Body of Christ, the Temple of the Holy Spirit, the Pillar and Foundation of truth.

"When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say.  For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."  (Matthew 10: 19-20).

Evangelization comes with Persecution.  If they persecute the Lord Jesus, what do you expect?  (Cf. John 15 : 20).  But do not be afraid.  The Holy Spirit will help you.

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God sent a man before them, Joseph sold as a slave.

“I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.  But now do not be distressed, and do not be angry with yourselves for having sold me here. It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you."  (Genesis 45: 4 - 5).

The Scripture above is one of the most beautiful text in the whole of Sacred Scripture.  Why? It teaches about the great doctrine and mystery of Divine Providence.  The Church defines Divine Providence as:

"Divine providence consists of the dispositions by which God guides all his creatures with wisdom and love to their ultimate end."  (CCC 321).

The Providential will of God appears casual and haphazard in its operations.  This makes it difficult to recognize or believe.
The ordinary providence of God constitutes 99.9% of His operations.  This is His modus operandi or simply the way God governs His world.

"You give me bread to feed me, soap to cleanse me, fire to purify me, and a chisel to shape my human form into one worthy of heaven.  You give me everything I need. What I seek elsewhere seeks me out and offers itself to me through all creation." 
(Jean-Pierre de Caussade, SJ - ABANDONMENT TO DIVINE PROVIDENCE)

Jean-Pierre de Caussade, an 18th century French Jesuit is one of the leading authorities on Divine Providence.

"O God, whose providence never fails in its design, keep from us, we humbly beseech you, all that might harm us and grant all that works for our good.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever."
(Collect Wednesday 9th week of Ordinary Time).

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The eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear Him to preserve them in spite of famine.

"The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end,  and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said."  (Genesis 41: 53 - 54).
"Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians: “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.”  (Genesis 41: 55).

"And one of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine all over the world, and it happened under Claudius."  (Acts 11: 28).

"He called down famine on the land
and destroyed all their supplies of food; and he sent a man before them Joseph, sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons."  (Psalm 105: 16 - 18).

In the above Scriptures, we look at three scenarios of famine gripping the world.  God never fails to prepare for a solution using His servant. "Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.”  (Genesis 41: 55).

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The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.

Jesus healed a possessed man who was dumb. The crowds were amazed and exclaimed:
 “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”  (Matthew 9: 33).

"Is anything too marvelous for the Lord to do?"  (Genesis 18: 14)
Our unbelief and doubts place limits on what God can do.

"Jesus said to him, “[You say to Me,] ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!”  (Mark 9: 23 AMP).

"Then he said to his disciples, “The size of the harvest is bigger than you can imagine, but there are few workers.  Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers for his harvest.”  (Matthew 9: 37 - 38 CEB)

Abba Father, have mercy on the Church and send numerous workers into Your Vineyards.

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Know that I am always with you.

"Jacob then made this vow: “If God will be with me and protect me on this journey I am making and give me food to eat and clothes to wear,  and I come back safely to my father’s house, the Lord will be my God."  (Genesis 28: 20 - 21).

God answered Jacob:
"I am with you and will protect you wherever you go, and bring you back to this land. I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you."  (Genesis 28: 15).

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is still a faithful God.  What He says He does. Trust Him always and everywhere.

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The Gracious Will of Abba Father reveals to the little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.

 “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.  Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will."  (Matthew 11:  25 - 26).

It is the gracious will of Abba Father to reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom of God to little ones.  This is how God acts always and everywhere. The "gracious will" of God never fails nor does it change, come what may.

Those who have enjoyed revelation of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God through the gracious will of Abba Father are:  Saints Catherine of Sienna, Teresa of Avila, Therese of Lisieux.  These three women are Doctors of the Church.
Others are: Saints Maria Faustina, Teresa of Kolkata.
Mother Mary Angelica deserves a place on this list even though she has not been canonized.  Read her 5 books to judge for yourself the revelations she has enjoyed.

"O God, who in the abasement of your Son have raised up a fallen world, fill your faithful with holy joy,
for on those you have rescued from slavery to sin you bestow eternal gladness.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever."  (Collect 14th Sunday).

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Pour new wine into new wineskins

"People do not put new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined.
Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”  (Matthew 9: 16 - 17).

Do not conform to the world. (Romans 12: 2).

He who follows me must not look back.  (Luke 9: 62).

He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.  (Matthew 10: 37).

The new and potent wine of Jesus must not be mixed with the stale wine of the world.

“Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even put a road in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert."  (Isaiah 43: 19 AMP).

Does your daily habits match the new wine of the Gospel? Or are you trying to pour potent and fermenting wine into old rags?

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New wine into new wineskins.

"People do not put new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined.
Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”  (Matthew 9: 16 - 17).

Do not conform to the world. (Romans 12: 2).

He who follows me must not look back.  (Luke 9: 62).

He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.  (Matthew 10: 37).

The new and potent wine of Jesus must not be mixed with the stale wine of the world.

“Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even put a road in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert."  (Isaiah 43: 19 AMP).

Does your daily habits match the new wine of the Gospel? Or are you trying to pour potent and fermenting wine into old rags?

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First Friday in July - Sacred Heart of Jesus.

First Friday in July - Sacred Heart of Jesus:  All over the world, we honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus today.

We live today in the Season of Mercy.  "Blessed  are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."  (Matthew 5: 7).

The ABC OF MERCY:
A:  Ask for Mercy.
B:  Be Merciful.
C:  Completely trust Jesus for Mercy.

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Come to Jesus with all your burdens.

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) 

We all labor and are heavily burdened with problems of money, health, family, job, cars, etc. Jesus knows us individually and is aware of our situation. He invites us to come to Him to find solution to our many problems. We come to Jesus in the Eucharist. We meet Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. When the Church gathers in prayer in His name, He is there. When we accept the word of God with faith, it changes our lives and our circumstances. 

Prayer for genuine contentment

"My God, in your creation of this world you made all things to be very good. I thank you, Lord, for all the goods of this world, and especially all those who have provided for me and my loved ones. 
But remind me, Lord, that only you are the true Good, and that all earthly goods are but shadows of you. And should I become very attached to any fleeting good, and let it obstruct my love for you, grant me the holy desire to have it taken from me. Through Christ Our Lord, the King of glory who has no pillow to lay his head. Amen." 

LISTEN TO JESUS CHRIST, THE FAITHFUL WITNESS. 

"Set your mind on God's kingdom 
and His justice before everything else, and all the rest will come to you as well. 
So do not be anxious about tomorrow; tomorrow will look after itself. Each day has troubles 
enough of its own."  (Matthew  6: 33-34)

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