First Reading: Rm 8:18-25; Psalm: 126. R. v. 3a; Gospel: Lk 13:18-21

THE YEAST AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

Dough, a thick malleable mixture of floor and liquid can rise in size when mixed with yeast. This rising takes a gradual process until it reaches its plateau. The magic of yeast on the dough is such that it can make the dough rise as many times its original size. This change in the size of the dough due to the effect of yeast underscores the point on which the message of today centres.

Jesus compared the kingdom of God to yeast in the dough. “It is like a leaven (yeast) which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.” How can we explain this? To do this, we need to understand what Jesus meant by ‘the kingdom of God’. The kingdom of God is simply the presence of Jesus which equals to the presence of God among us. It is the establishment of the faith in Christ Jesus made visible today through the Church. It is the faith we preach.

So, the illustration of the rising effect of yeast on the dough explains how the coming of Christ had great effect on the world. How conversion and growth in faith is a gradual process. We can sometimes be impatient with our growth in the faith and in holiness. We want to reach certain level in our spirituality and faith life; but sometimes we feel we are stalling or not making the desired progress. This can be discouraging. But this parable teaches us that conversion and growth in the faith takes a gradually process just like the rising effect of yeast on the dough. God’s grace works in us in a gradual and transforming way. We should therefore not despair but keep making effort, trusting on the grace of God at work in us.      

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Lord Jesus, may your kingdom come in our lives.  Amen.