July 27, 2026 // Monday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Matthew 13:31-35
Reflect on the Word //
Several times I’ve tried to become a habitual bread baker. Nothing beats the aroma filling the house, nor the taste of a home-baked loaf of bread. I’ve bought sourdough starters, specialty flours, and even tried a wild sourdough starter method. The results were always delicious and a huge hit with my family.
But baking consistently while keeping up with the demands of my family proves time and again to be more than I can handle. I forget to keep enough yeast or flour on hand, I run out of time to feed the starter, or I don’t have time to keep baking.
After my baking escapades, Jesus’ parable about the yeast fascinates me. I buy my flour and yeast in small amounts at the store, ready to go whenever I want to bake. I started wondering where the woman’s yeast came from and how much flour filled three measures.
Natural yeast exists in the environment or is saved from previous batches of baking or fermenting. Perhaps the parable yeast was saved from other baking. As for the three measures of flour, I learned that amount equals nearly fifty pounds of flour! Once leavened and baked, the bread from three measures fed close to 100 people (source).
I think Jesus was speaking not only of the transformation yeast creates, but also of abundant nourishment. Without Jesus, I can do nothing, just as flour cannot become bread without yeast. Jesus nourishes me and changes me every time I receive His Body in the Eucharist. With His life in me, His kingdom can be established and grow in my heart. Just as the yeast in the parable leavened a large quantity of flour, Jesus can transform my entire life for His glory.
God wants to transform each of our lives, and through us, the whole world. The transformation starts when we read Scripture and receive the Sacraments, allowing Jesus into the depths of our being. If we let Him, He will work through us as wild yeast, establishing His kingdom everywhere.
Relate to the Lord // Receive Jesus in the Eucharist at daily Mass this week.
