Good morning, good people,
May the Lord give you peace and health in the Holy Spirit.
It is 23rd July 2025.
Today, we celebrate the Memorial of St. Bridget of Sweden, Religious.
Saint Bridget of Sweden admonishes:”The world would have peace if only men of politics would follow the Gospels.”
We reflect on Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15 and the Gospel of Matthew 13:1-9.
Growing up and moving forward is often painful, yet profoundly necessary for our integral happiness and spiritual development. When we become too comfortable with someone or something—even when it costs us our peace and growth—it becomes difficult to detach and re-root ourselves where God truly wants us.
To be made new, to embark on fresh paths, to redirect our focus, and to learn anew—these moments of transition expose our vulnerability but also reinforce our inner stability. Without encountering some level of discomfort, we cannot make space for newness in our lives.
The people of Israel had already witnessed two mighty wonders: the protection of their firstborn and the crossing of the Red Sea. Yet in today’s reading, we hear how God still provides—with meat, manna, and water for their weary, complaining hearts. Still, they longed for the false security of their former slavery in Egypt, gripped by nostalgia and doubt.
How often we are like them. When we complain, we forget to recall the goodness of those around us and the countless blessings we’ve received. By magnifying our personal struggles, we often downplay the sufferings of others, rendering them invisible.
Each of us carries the potential to be the best seed we can be. But so often we linger in thorny, rocky, and shallow places that inhibit the seed’s transformation. It is only through painful, progressive, and proactive growth that the seed can yield a bountiful harvest.
When we respond to the Word of God, the hard shell of the seed begins to open. Our good works water and nourish it, allowing it to reach its fullest potential. “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22). Growth and transformation begin from within.
Jesus continues to sow His Word today—through Scripture, Sacraments, and the Community of Faith. Unless we open our hearts to receive, act upon, and live the Word, we cannot truly encounter the living God. The Word of God is planted in every heart; but the fruitfulness depends on the soil we prepare.
God bless you always.