"The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed which a man took,
and sowed in his field."--Matt. 13.
Today is another Sunday when we have readings from the 6th after Epiphany, since we have more than 24 Sundays after Pentecost. We will have one more before we get to the Last Sunday after Pentecost. So, try to be patient for a couple more weeks.
We will hear about the mustard seed; how small it is, and how great its tree can be.
Today's Gospel from St. Matthew contains a most important admonition. It shows us clearly how we must carefully co-operate with divine grace, if it is to bear fruit within us, and how much depends on our considering nothing too small, nothing too trifling, which can assist us in furthering the kingdom of God. On the other hand, we must not think anything too trivial which would prevent its growth or destroy it.
Man generally only deems such things worthy of his attention as are in themselves great and weighty, and yet experience constantly teaches the contrary, in the effects of nature as well as in those of grace. Therefore, take for your maxim in life: Esteem nothing too little which can strengthen your life as a child of God, and regard nothing that can endanger it, as unimportant.
The small grain of mustard-seed grows and, if well taken care of, becomes a tree. The growth of a tree, however, depends on several distinct conditions. The seed must be planted in suitable soil, it must feel the effects of the sun and of the air, it must take root and shoot upwards and spread; then only can we hope that the birds of the air will rest on the branches and there find shelter and rest.
St. Anthony hears from the altar the words of the Gospel: "If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and follow me." Behold an apt illustration of the mustard-seed! St. Anthony hears this call of Christ. The seed falls into his heart. He leaves the world, goes into the desert of Egypt and becomes the patriarch of monks, those grand and heroic saints of the wilderness. How gigantic the tree which grew from this little seed; in the branches of that tree how many a bird found shelter and rest!
To St. Augustine came the call of grace with the words: "Take this and read!" He took the book which contained the lives of St. Anthony and his disciples, and the seed fell deep into the still sinful heart of Augustine, took root there, and grew into a mighty tree in whose branches the birds of the air found shelter and rest. The number of his followers became most numerous, and many eminent theologians taught by his works, have been instructors in the sanctuary of the Church.
John of God entered a church and heard the word of God. The seed fell into his heart, and produced a tree, the wide spreading branches of which shelter the birds of the air.
St. Francis Xavier was living a worldly life in Paris, when St. Ignatius said to him: "Xavier, what doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" These words fell like seed into his heart, and, taking root there, produced a tree whose branches extend far and wide over Asia and Japan, and hundreds of thousands of human souls find rest and shelter beneath them, even to this clay.
To make the seed take root, it is necessary to have not merely a passing wish, but an earnest desire to live as God demands. The tender plant must lift itself above the ground, and grow, warmed by the light of the sun and nourished by air and rain. This means that we must watch and foster within us the workings of grace; we must walk in the sunlight of faith, and through our prayers and communions with God become filled with the desire to live for heaven, that the birds of the air, that is, the good intentions awakened by this desire, may find shelter and rest in our hearts. If we live in this disposition, all will be well with us, the tree of virtue will grow within us and we will enjoy its numberless blessings.
On the other hand, we can also say that the tree of vice, whose beginning is small but whose growth is sure, resembles a mustard-seed. Man is not all at once inclined to evil. No the seed generally falls lightly and imperceptibly into the heart, sometimes by means of a sinful word, a dangerous book, or bad example. The poisonous plant takes root and grows. We pay no attention to it, and neglect to weed it out. It gains strength by our giving way to temptations, and, stretching out its various branches, ruins countless souls by its corrupting influence. Therefore we must not only be careful to accept and make use of every divine grace, however small it may be, but searching continually our conscience, we must also uproot whatever sin is implanted in our hearts, in order to prevent it from growing into a tree which we will be unable to uproot, but will be obliged to fell with the ax of penance, a task for which the sinner has seldom either the strength or the courage.
Therefore, let our rule of conduct be, never to regard as of little consequence any thing which concerns our life as children of God, nor count as trifling anything that may endanger our soul. Thus thought and thus lived, according to St. Basil, the great saints of God. It was this that made them giant trees of virtue in the kingdom of Christ! Amen!
O Mary, full of grace, pray for us, that we may co-operate with every divine grace, be it ever so small, and that the kingdom of God may grow in strength within us, and suffer no harm! We speak in the most holy name of Jesus, to the greater glory of God!
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