By Vicky Lamin Gayang, CSC –
Readings: Rom 8:18-25; Lk 13: 18-21
In today’s Gospel, Jesus uses small things to illustrate the Kingdom of God. He compares the kingdom of God with a small and tiny mustard seed which gradually grows into a tree producing and providing food and shelter to creatures of God.
The kingdom of God comes from things that are small, insignificant, unnoticed, unwanted, unloved and uncared for. Human as we are, often we do not care or bother about small things in life. We always take them for granted as less important. We fail to see the potential that small things contain. We all have the tendency to notice and give importance to things that are big while deeming small things as insignificant. We think and believe that big things are more important and better. However, we are reminded today that great things always begin small.
Faithfulness to small things will enable us to achieve great things in life. It can also make a great impact on one’s life and on the life of others. A small gesture of love and help towards others can transform their lives. Saint Mother Theresa of Calcutta is the best example for us to remain faithful to small things in life. She said, “Little things are indeed little, but to be faithful in little things is a great thing.”
Today we are called to be faithful in small things in life and to do small things with great love; for faithfulness to small, simple and little things will bring transformation in one’s life and help us to come closer to Jesus. Moreover, to be faithful to small things Jesus encourages you and me to cultivate the virtues of patience, consistency, discipline and hope in God’s grace. Let us continue to reflect and ask ourselves, Do I value the smaller things in my life? Am I faithful in doing them with love and humility?