＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Romans 8: 18-25

I consider that the suffering of our present life cannot be compared with the Glory that will be revealed and given to us.  

All creation is eagerly expecting the birth in glory of the children of God.  For if now the created world was unable to attain its purpose, this did not come from itself, but from the one who subjected it.

But it is not without hope;   for even the created world will be freed from this fate of death and share the freedom and glory of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pangs of birth.  Not creation alone, but even ourselves, although the Spirit was given to us as a foretaste of what we are to receive, we groan in our innermost being, eagerly awaiting the day when God will give us full rights and rescue our bodies as well.

 In hope we already have salvation. But if we saw what we hoped for, there would no longer be hope: how can you hope for what is already seen?   So we hope for what we do not see and we will receive it through patient hope.

 

Ps 126  The Lord has done marvels for us.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke  13: 18-21

And Jesus continued, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to?  Imagine a person who has taken a mustard seed, and planted it in the garden. The seed has grown and become like a small tree, so that the birds of the air shelter in its branches.”

 And Jesus said again, “What is the kingdom of God like? Imagine a woman who has taken yeast and hidden it in three measures of flour until it is all leavened.”

 

Reflection gospel：

“WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD LIKE?”

The words of Jesus today reminds me of his remark in Luke 17:21, “The kingdom of God is among (or within) you.” We do not need to look far in other words; we only need to see within ourselves and find that God reigns there.

At first this reign of God within us can hardly be noticed, like a mustard seed whose size an unaided eye can barely see. Then it grows and gains more hold over our lives and we feel that like the birds we find benefit in its presence; it fires, guides, and inspires. Then we begin to see a turnabout.

In silence and in God’s grace, we become the kingdom of God incarnate. Then like east, in spite of our insignificance, we integrate ourselves into the dough, which is the world. From within we affect it, we penetrate it, and we transform it, leavened, to become his kingdom.

God has a beautiful purpose for the world. He longs to see the world delight in his reign and presence. But God needs instruments to accomplish his plan. We are these instruments. But first we must see this kingdom at work within us and then make the witness of our lives become a force to change the world.