Reflection for July 28 Monday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 13:31-35

Gospel: Matthew 13:31-35

Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds. “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.” 

He spoke to them another parable. “The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.” All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: 

I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world. illustrate the same point: the amazing contrast between the small beginnings of the kingdom and its marvelous expansion.

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Reflection:

How does the Kingdom of God begin in our hearts? 

It begins in the quietest of ways—like a tiny seed planted deep within us. At first, it may seem small and insignificant. But when we nurture it with prayer, soak it in the wisdom of the Bible, and remain faithfully present at Holy Mass, it begins to grow. Slowly, gently—little by little—it flourishes. And when it does, it becomes a source of blessing, not just for us, but for those around us. 

Yet not everyone experiences this growth. For many of us, the Kingdom also begins small—but instead of growing, it fades and dies. Why does this happen? Because we often fail to nurture it. We neglect to ask Jesus to bless our faith. We forget that faith, like any living thing, needs care, time, and intentional effort to thrive. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of the parable of the mustard seed—a beautiful image of how faith begins and how He longs for it to grow within us. This seed was first planted in our hearts at baptism. And just as we grow in years and wisdom, Jesus desires that we grow in faith—so that we may be witnesses of His love and truth to others. 

So now I ask you: How is the seed of faith that Jesus sowed in your heart at baptism? Have you allowed it to take root and grow? Have you nurtured it with prayer, strengthened it with the Word of God, and fed it with the grace of the sacraments? Have you made the effort to ask Jesus to help your faith grow stronger each day? 

And if it has grown—thanks be to God! But let me also ask: Has anyone been blessed through the faith that now lives in you? Because when faith is real and alive, it bears fruit. It blesses others—just as God continues to bless you. — Marino J. Dasmarinas