MONDAY OF THE 16TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR
Mystery of the day: Glorious
Celebration: Ferial
Liturgical Colour: Green
Table of the Word
First Reading: Exodus 16:1–5, 9–15
Gospel: Matthew 13:1–9
Theme: The God who provides...
Reflection
Beloved in Christ Jesus, God's choicest blessings upon you and your household. This morning we gather around the Tables of the Word and of the Eucharist in thanksgiving to God for yet another opportunity given to us to behold the dawn of the day. Taking a look at today's Table of the Word, it beautifully weaves together the themes of divine providence and human receptivity. Here God’s fidelity to His people is displayed in the wilderness journey of the Israelites with murmuring (cf.Exodus 16:1–5, 9–15); and in the parable of the sower, Jesus teaches the mysteries of the Kingdom (cf. Matthew 13:1–9).
Juxtaposingly, these texts provoked in us these fundamental questions: Are we receptive to God’s word? Do we trust His providence, even in the deserts of life?
As we read in the first reading, when God showers His people with Provident Love through outporing of Manna in the Desert. They all ate and had their fill, though were hungry again. This act prefigures the Eucharist, our Bread from Heaven, given by Christ to sustain us in our earthly pilgrimage. As St. Augustine would say, “Christ is in the Old Testament concealed, and in the New Testament revealed.” Just as manna fed the body just for a while, the Eucharist feeds the soul for eternity.
On the other hand, that same God who provided speaks to us in the parable through His Son employing the image of the seed being the Word. This parable challenges us to reflect on the state of our hearts. Are we distracted, hardened, shallow, or receptive? That is why St. John Chrysostom reminds us that “the path, the rock, the thorns, and the good ground are not types of men, but of states which the soul may experience at different times.” That is, we must cultivate the soil of our hearts daily through prayer, repentance, and openness.
My dear brothers and sisters, today’s readings emphasize the interplay of grace and cooperation. God offers His word and His sustenance freely, but He also desires a response, a docile, faithful, trusting heart. This reminds us of the ancient thought attributed to St. Augusfine who said: "God who created us without us, cannot save us without us." Thus, implying a cooperation with the grace of God as pilgrims of hope. And the Catechism of the Church reminded us that: “God's Word is a seed sown in the hearts of His people, calling for a response in faith and action” (CCC 2707, 2708).
Beloved in Christ, in our daily struggle let us learn how ro appreciate God for Who He is, what He has done and what He will certainly do. He is too faithful to disappoint us, for He cannot appoint to disappoint. For the Israelites the lost sense of the past and were interested of here and now. They suddenly forget what God did for them and the beautiful promises He made. It is my earnest prayer that, may we never beclouded by what we can have here and now, but look into the future with hope that will never deceive us. Let these Words be sown in our hearts of flesh so as to bear fruits in hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
+ Peace be with you.
© ARCHIVE 23072025
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