DAILY READINGS & REFLECTION

Friday of the Third week in Ordinary Time (February 1)

What the kingdom of God is like

GOSPEL

Mark 4:26-34

26 And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground, 27 and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28 The earth produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come." 30 And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34 he did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

The Gospel of the Lord
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REFLECTION

In the kingdom of God it is like this. A man scatters seed upon the soil and the soil produces of itself

Today, Jesus is telling people about an experience very close to his life: A man scatters seed upon the soil, the seed sprouts and grows. The soil produces of itself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear (Mk 4:26-28). With these words Jesus is speaking of the kingdom of God, consisting of sanctity and grace, Truth and Life, justice, love and peace (Preface of the Solemnity of our Lord Christ the King), that He is bringing us. We must make this kingdom real. First, within each one of us; afterwards, for all our world.
In every Christian's, soul Jesus Christ has sown by virtue of the Baptism the grace, the sanctity, the Truth. It is necessary that these seeds sprout, grow and bear a multitude of good fruits, our deeds: deeds of service and charity, of kindness and generosity, of sacrifice to properly comply with our daily duty and to make happy those around us; deeds of constant prayer, of forgiveness and understanding, of effort to grow in virtue, of joy.
Thus, this Kingdom of God that begins within each one of us will extend to our family, to our people, to our society, to our world. Because, he who lives like that, what does he do but preparing the path of God, so that the strength of grace fills him and the light of truth lights him up; so that his ways to God are always straight? (Saint Gregory the Great).
The seed begins very small, It is like a mustard seed which, when sown, is the smallest of all the seeds scattered upon the soil. But once sown, it grows up and becomes the largest of the plants in the garden (Mk 4:31-32). But the force of God's will scatters it all over and makes it grow up with a surprising vigor. Jesus asks us today as in the beginning of Christianity to spread his kingdom throughout all the world

-Fr. Jordi Pascual i Bancells
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FIRST READING

Hebrews 10:32-39

32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings,33 sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.34 For you had compassion on the prisoners, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.36 For you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised.37 "For yet a little while, and the coming one shall come and shall not tarry;38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him."39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and keep their souls.
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM

PSALM 36(37):3-4, 5-6, 23-24, 39-40

Response: The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Trust in the LORD and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will grant you your heart's requests.

R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Commit to the LORD your way;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make justice dawn for you like the light;
bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.

R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

By the LORD are the steps of a man made firm,
and he approves his way.
Though he fall, he does not lie prostrate,
for the hand of the LORD sustains him.

R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
he is their refuge in time of distress.
And the LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.

R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
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