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Holy Cross Abbey

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Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas

January 28, 2022 by Fr Joseph

Saint John Chrysostom offers an interesting reflection on Jesus’ image of the kingdom of God being like a mustard seed. He identifies the mustard seed with Christ and thus comments: “O seed by which the world was made, through which dark­ness was dispersed and the Church brought into being! In this seed hanging on the cross was such tremendous power that by a mere word, though bound itself, it snatched the thief from his cross and transported him to the joy of paradise. This seed, its side pierced by a spear, poured out for the thirsty an immortal drink. This mustard seed, taken down from the cross and planted in a garden, branched out over the whole world. This mustard seed sown in a garden sent its roots down to Hades, gathered together the souls that were there, and after three days raised them with itself to heaven.” He then concludes with an exhortation we would do well to heed: “The kingdom of heaven, then, is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden. Sow this mustard seed in the garden of your soul and the words of the prophet will apply to you as well: You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never run dry.“

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