Scripture
Matthew 13: 31-35
Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”
Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet:
“I will open my mouth to speak in parables;
I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Ignatian Reflection
Faith Requires Loving Care
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a mustard seed, one of the smallest seeds that grows into a tall shrub with strong branches where birds find shelter. It is a beautiful reminder that God often begins his greatest work in the smallest acts of faith, trust, and love.
Like the mustard seed, our relationship with God requires loving care and nourishment. It needs fertile soil, a heart open to God’s grace, and regular watering through daily prayer, reflection on Scripture, and the willingness to quiet ourselves so we can listen to God’s voice. Without this consistent care, our faith can become dry, and the seed God has planted in us will struggle to flourish. I find it interesting that the mustard plant’s flowers form the shape of a cross, reminding us that growth in Christ is always rooted in his love and sacrifice.
As our faith grows stronger, our lives, like the mustard plant, should offer rest, hope, and encouragement to others. Today, I invite you to notice how God is quietly working within you and to ask yourself: How am I watering the mustard seed that God has planted in my heart?
—Edith Hudson is a graduate of the Midwest Jesuit's Seminars in Ignatian Formation program, a spiritual director, and the police chief of Marquette University’s Police Department.
Ignatian Prayer
Jul 27, 2026
Prayer
Loving God,
Thank You for planting the seed of faith within each of us.
Give us the desire to open our hearts to You,
Grant us the grace to allow Your love to grow.
Give us the grace to quiet ourselves so we may hear from You,
Make us a source of rest, hope, and encouragement,
Root us firmly in our faith in You,
May we faithfully love others as you have loved us.
Amen
—Edith Hudson
The Daily Examen is a prayer technique developed by St. Ignatius to help us reflect on the events of the day to discern God's presence and direction. When Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus, he required the Jesuits to practice the Examen twice daily—at noon and at the end of the day. It's a habit that Jesuits, and many other Christians, practice to this day.
The Examen structure presented below is adapted from a technique described by Ignatius Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises. Click here for more information from our partners in ministry at Loyola Press.
Daily Examen
1. Become aware of God's presence
God, I believe that at this moment I am in your presence and you are loving me.
2. Review the day with gratitude
God, you know my needs better than I know them. Give me your light and your help to see how you have been with me, both yesterday and today.
3. Pay attention to your emotions
God, help me to be grateful for the moments when people have affirmed me and challenged me. Help me to see how I have responded, and whether I have been kind to others and open to growth.
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it
God, forgive me for when I have not done my best or have failed to treat others well. Encourage me, guide me, and continue to bless me.
5. Look toward tomorrow
As I look to the remainder of this day, make me aware that you are with me. Show me how to be the person you want me to be.
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