Tuesday 25 October 2022

Today is Tuesday the 25th of October, in the 30th week or Ordinary time.



The Kyiv Chamber Choir sing In Thy Kingdom from One Thousand Years Of Ukrainian Sacred Music.

(Lyrics currently unavailable)



Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 13:18-21

He said therefore, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.’

And again he said, ‘To what should I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.’

Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, preaching the Kingdom of God in actions and words, and following the healing of the bent over woman, he teaches two parables.

The mustard seed is the smallest of seeds, appearing insignificant. The healing of the woman may seem insignificant in the face of the masses who suffer, yet it brought hope and life where there was none.

Where have you found God working in your life, in small, seemingly insignificant ways? What life and hope did these actions bring to you?

Then the yeast, in quantity to flour (three to one) appears to be overwhelmed, reduced to nothing, hidden inside the darkness of the flour.

Yet yeast can only become what it really is when mixed with the flour.

So it is with God's hidden life, when mixed with ours. Only when it goes to the deepest point does it become clear what God's love is.

It shows its hidden power and life (like a mustard seed and yeast) when it penetrates into the most hidden parts and corners of our life. Reflect on when you have found this to be true in your own life.

As you hear the reading again, imagine a seed being buried in darkness and yeast hidden in the flour. Ponder this as you listen.

Jesus himself was buried in the darkness of a tomb, an outward sign saying the journey has ended, the running to us with healing and life is finished. Yet hope and life burst forth on the day of resurrection!

Is there something that is overwhelming you at the moment? Talk with Jesus about this.

Ask for His life and hope to be secretly at work in you today.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.