Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection October 29, 2024

29th October 2024 (Tuesday)

Psalter: Week 2

Readings of the Day

First Reading: Ephesians 5:21-33

Brethren: Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Saviour. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 (R. 1a)

R/. Blessed are all who fear the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have revealed to little children the mysteries of the kingdom

R/. Alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 13:18-21

At that time: Jesus said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”

Daily Gospel Reflection

Tuesday – Thirtieth Week of Ordinary Time

Guidelines: Often people are carried away by what is big and greatness is equated with the bigness of things. But today we are reminded that small things matter

1. St Francis de Sales said, “Perfection is not a little thing but it consists in little things.” There is an often tendency to take for granted small things in life and neglect them. In the process of seeking bigger and greater things, people lose sight of the smaller details of life and let them go off the hand.

2. It is in this context, Jesus draws our attention to the truth that the kingdom of God consists in small little things. Its growth and spread depend not on extraordinary matters but on small ones. Two metaphors of a mustard seed and a little yeast illustrate this point. Both are little. But they have a greater effect. The small mustard seed grows into a big tree and shelters many birds. The little yeast leavens a larger portion of flour.

3. Many of us are accustomed to the culture of the big and mighty. We need to learn to recognise the value of the small things. This applies also to the persons. We need to realise, value and appreciate every person for their basic human dignity. We need to get rid of our materialistic mentality. This treats others only on the basis of what and how much they have, in terms of money, possessions, power, position, name, talent, et cetera.

4. Two such crucial domains where we must cultivate this mystery and value of the little are our faith life and family life. In our life of faith, let us not wait for big opportunities to manifest our spirit of devotion. Every little activity and every little practice of virtue counts a lot. Similarly, in family life too, both husband and wife should be conscious of the fact that the little is big.

5. Love, submission, and fidelity are the essential components that make our little things great, both in our faith and family. In the present times, there is a dominant atmosphere of hatred, resentment, defiance, obstinacy, and infidelity. This is deteriorating the quality, beauty, and joy of our faith life and family life.

Practice: If only a little more love, mutual humility and submission, and fidelity and commitment increase in the practice of religion and the life of family, things will change drastically. The kingdom of God with love, justice, and peace will flourish