The Mustard Seed

Today's Readings:
Heb 10:32-39
Ps 37:3-6, 23-24, 39-40
Mk 4:26-34

Jesus speaks about the Kingdom of God in our Gospel today, likening it to a mustard seed. Our faith is very much like that seed; it starts out small but through care and nurturing it, the seed begins to grow. Our faith must also be nurtured and cared for if we want it to grow. We do this through constant prayer and by living out the Gospel message in our daily lives, by doing this our faith becomes stronger and we bring about the God's Kingdom. Today let us expose the seed of faith we all have been given to the light of God's grace and allow it to guide us throughout this day and all of our life. Have a great day and God Bless

Saint of the Day - St. Bathildis
The story begins around the year 630. A frightened, Christian English girl could have never imagined what her future would be like. What she did know was that she had been kidnapped and was on a pirate ship. Where was she going? Who could she ask? Finally, the ship docked and she heard people saying they were in France. Bathildis was quickly sold as a slave to the manager of King Clovis' palace. The rest of the story is like a Cinderella fairy tale, except that this tale is really true. The quiet girl paid careful attention as her chores were explained or demonstrated to her. Day after day, she went from one task to another doing the very best she could. She was shy and gentle, but even King Clovis began to notice her. The more he observed, the more he was impressed. This was the kind of girl who would make a wonderful wife-even a king's wife. In 649, Clovis married Bathildis. The little slave girl had become the queen. They had three sons. Clovis died when the oldest son was only five, so Bathildis would be ruler of France until her sons grew up. It must have been surprising to just about everybody that Bathildis could rule so wisely. She remembered too well what it was like to be poor. She remembered also her years as a slave. She had been sold as if she were a "thing of little value." Bathildis wanted everyone to know how precious they were to God. She was filled with love for Jesus and his Church. She used her position to help the Church in every way she could. She did not be-come proud or arrogant. Rather, she cared for the poor. She also protected people from being captured and treated as slaves. She filled France with hospitals. She started a seminary to train priests and a convent for nuns. Later, Queen Bathildis entered the convent herself. As a nun, she set aside her royal dignity. She became one of the nuns, humble and obedient. She never demanded or even expected that other people should wait on her. She was also very kind and gentle with the sick. When she became ill, she suffered a long, painful illness until her death on January 30, 680.
Reflection: Our lives don’t always follow the pattern of fairy-tales, but through the life of St. Bathildis we can learn to hope in God’s providence and loving care for us.

Saint information comes from: http://www.holyspiritinteractive.net/dailysaint/january/0130.asp