“But once it is sown, it springs up
and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that
the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” – Mark 4:32
TO BE OF SIGNIFICANCE
Pay It Forwardis
a movie based on a novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde about Trevor, who tried
to help three people in the hope that these people will help three
others to make a difference in the world. At the end of the story, it
showed how the good deeds of a few spread throughout the country.
Significant change doesn’t start only from someone who is a
president of a country or a famous celebrity. Like the mustard seed in
today’s reading, no matter how small the acts that we make in the name
of God, we should not take it for granted. Although it may seem insignificant to commend a colleague for
a job well done, it may inspire that person to do better even in other
aspects of her life. And that will affect the lives of the people around
her, too.
Let’s start the positive change within ourselves and with how we view
things in our immediate surroundings. We can make our world an even
better place. Mae Ignacio
1ST READING
David
is not perfect. He, too, is a flawed man. He lusts after Bathsheba and
is led into serious sin that culminates in the death of Bathsheba’s
husband. When he realizes his sin, he is incredibly sorry and tradition
tells us that Psalm 51 is a result. Read the psalm and see what it means
to have a repentant heart. It is good to reflect on the nature of true
repentance as we all have reason to repent, and should do so every day.
2 Samuel 11:1-4, 5-10, 13-17
1 At the turn of the year, when kings go out on campaign, David sent out Joab along with his officers and the army of Israel, and they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. David, however, remained in Jerusalem. 2 One
evening David rose from his siesta and strolled about on the roof of
the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing, who was very
beautiful. 3 David had inquiries made about the woman and was told, “She is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam, and wife of Joab’s armorbearer, Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers and took her. When she came to him, he had relations with her. She then returned to her house. 5But the woman had conceived, and sent the information to David, “I am with child.” 6 David therefore sent a message to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David. 7When he came, David questioned him about Joab, the soldiers, and how the war was going, and Uriah answered that all was well. 8 David then said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and bathe your feet.” Uriah left the palace, and a portion was sent out after him from the king’s table. 9 But Uriah slept at the entrance of the royal palace with the other officers of his lord, and did not go down to his own house. 10 David was told that Uriah had not gone home. On the day following, 13David summoned him, and he ate and drank with David, who made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his bed among his lord’s servants, and did not go down to his home. 14 The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab which he sent by Uriah. 15 In it he directed: “Place Uriah up front, where the fighting is fierce. Then pull back and leave him to be struck down dead.” 16 So while Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew the defenders were strong. 17 When the men of the city made a sortie against Joab, some officers of David’s army fell, and among them Uriah the Hittite died.
P S A L M
Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 6-7, 10-11
R: Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
1 [3] Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. 2 [4] Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. (R) 3 [5] For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always. 4 [6] “Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.” (R) I have done such evil in your sight that you are just in your sentence, blameless when you condemn. 5 [7] True, I was born guilty, a sinner, even as my mother conceived me. (R) 8 [10] Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness; the bones you have crushed shall rejoice. 9 [11] Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my guilt. (R)
GOSPEL
God
is the one who brings increase and growth to His Kingdom. It is up to
us to be obedient to His will but there is very little, if anything,
that we can achieve on our own strength. God needs us to be His “hands
and feet,” so to speak, but the most important aspect is the will of
God. Obedience to the grace of God is an essential aspect of
discipleship and, thus, a prime focus for our faith.
Mark 4:26-34
26 Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land 27 and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28 Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” 30 He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. 32 But
once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and
puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its
shade.” 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. 34 Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.
REFLECTION
A BRIEF LOOK AT ST. JOHN BOSCO
Today,
the Church honors St. John Bosco, the founder of the Salesians whose
good work we also appreciate very much in our country. His childhood was
far from pleasant. John’s father died when he was only two years old.
It was not easy for his mother to bring him up alone and give him an
education that would guarantee a successful future. But she was a pious
woman and gave him a good Christian education. Her beatification process
has already started. What mothers can do even in times of poverty!
John was ordained a priest at the age of 31. Having experienced an
extremely difficult youth, he focused on the education of young men. As a
skilled educator, Don Bosco formulated a system of education which
could also be very helpful for our younger generation today. His motto
was “Reason, Religion, Kindness.” He summarized his program for the
youth with a brief sentence: “The young should know that they are
loved.” Don Bosco once told his boys: “Remember, whatever I am, I am all
for you, day and night, morning and evening, at every moment.” He
advised educators to love the young as they would love their own sons.
It goes without saying that this also applies to parents as educators.
Twenty years after his ordination, about 800 students benefited from
John Bosco’s educational system. One of his students even became a
saint, St. Dominic Savio. To be sure that his work would continue after
his death, John Bosco founded the Society of St. Francis de Sales. He
sent out missionaries, especially to Latin America. When he realized the
importance of printing materials, he founded a printing press and
published pamphlets, magazines and books to spread the Good News.
If more parents would follow the example of St. John Bosco and realize
their great mission to prepare their children for the future and for
heaven, we wouldn’t have to worry about the future of our nation and of
the Church. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD
"Lord, I pray for our educators,
especially for all parents. May they realize their great responsibility
and privilege to form their children for a better future. May they do it
with love and kindness."
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