Twenty Sixth Sunday After Pentecost (6th Sunday After Epiphany) The Gospel Matt.13:31-35. Monday Meditation: A Plaine Path-way To Heaven Thomas Hill 1634

GOSPEL Matt. 13:31-35 

AT THAT TIME, Jesus spoke this parable unto them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field. Which is the least indeed of all seeds; but when it is grown up, it is greater than all herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come, and dwell in the branches thereof." Another parable he spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like to leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until the whole was leavened."All these things Jesus spoke in parables to the multitudes: and without parables he did not speak to them. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world."

Consideration For Monday

To a grain of mustard ſeed which is the least of all seeds, & groweth up to a tree. 

The doctrine of Christ, which is here meant by the Kingdom of heaven, teacheth us to be little ones, to be humble, to be patient, to love our enemies, and pray for them, to do good for evil not to revenge our wrongs, but leave the revenge to God, or at least not to revenge our selves with the offence of God; to be poor of spirit, or of a poor or little spirit, concerning worldly things; to think our selves poor in virtue, and devotion, and nothing in comparison of what we should, and might be, if we would, and of what others would be,if they had the grace, and means that we have. 

This little seed the Apostles did sow in the world, it grew up. to a mighty tree spread throughout all the world, making a universal Catholic Church or Congregation of people, professing to walk in this humble, and lowly way: whilst: worldly men in all worldly respects affect greatness, to walk, as the Prophet David saith in matters above themselves.

This little seed likewise is the first motion of grace in our souls, a little breathing of the holy ghost: which if we nourish, and prepare our hearts for it, with continual motion of industrious, cooperation  (as the heavens continually move for the conservation of this inferior world) it will grow up to a great tree of perfection, full of branches, not of one or two, but of all manner of virtues together, which is to be a perfect, and complete tree in deed. 

For if we have one or two virtues, and have not ail in some reasonable degree at least; or if those virtues we have, be imped with vices, we cannot be said  to be a perfect tree that bringeth forth good fruit, but good, and bad together, & so loose our merit of the good, or a great part thereof. 

And as he cannot be called a perfect tree, that hath but one or two branches of virtue, & those mixed with diverse vices & imperfections: much less can he be called a great tree, as S. Antony, who was called Anthony the great, not for any other greatness, but for his greatness in all manner of virtues, imitating in himself whatsoever virtue he saw in others.

Likewiſe the doctrine of the gospel of Christ is compared to a grain of mustered seed, not so much for the littleness of the seed, and greatness of the tree, (for in that proportion the oak far exceeds it,) but for the heat, vigor , and mordacity that is in it, more then in any other seed: to signify how great our fervor, and zeal in the love and ſervice of God, and in the profession of our religion should be. 

And as the heat, and mordacity of this little seed is not felt, but when it is broken; and  bruised in a mortar: so is the strength, and fervor of our love to God, never so well known, as when we are broken and bruised with adversity, and tribulation , especially if it be for the profession of our faith.