16th Sunday in Ordinary Time_A

In the Gospel of Matthew 13:24-43, the three parables have something in common i.e., they speak about small things. In the first parable, Jesus used the word seed, a small thing. In the second, he used the mustard seed to teach some lessons about the Kingdom of God. In the last parable, he used the word leaven. In these three parables, Jesus would like to remind us Catholics that we should not ignore some small things because they are small. We have to remember they sometimes have lasting effects in our lives. In the first parable, good or evil starts with small beginnings until it becomes full-blown. The difference between good and evil is that God puts an end to a seemingly lasting effect of evil. In the long run, the good wins against evil. In the second and third parable, good things might be small yet they are considered great by those who benefit from them. A little goodness shared to others could change their lives for the better. Thereof, we do good to others through our own little ways and let God make it grow bigger. Let me end with a story. One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?” “You don’t owe me anything,” she replied. “Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.” He said, “Then I thank you from my heart.” As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit. Year’s later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor’s gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case. After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She began to read the following words: “Paid in full with one glass of milk” In the Gospel of Matthew 13:24-43, the three parables have something in common i.e., they speak about small things. In the first parable, Jesus used the word seed, a small thing. In the second, he used the mustard seed to teach some lessons about the Kingdom of God. In the last parable, he used the word leaven. In these three parables, Jesus would like to remind us Catholics that we should not ignore some small things because they are small. We have to remember they sometimes have lasting effects in our lives. In the first parable, good or evil starts with small beginnings until it becomes full-blown. The difference between good and evil is that God puts an end to a seemingly lasting effect of evil. In the long run, the good wins against evil. In the second and third parable, good things might be small yet they are considered great by those who benefit from them. A little goodness shared to others could change their lives for the better. Thereof, we do good to others through our own little ways and let God make it grow bigger.