Monday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today's readings present us with a striking contrast, don't they? In our first reading, the prophet Jeremiah uses the image of a linen loincloth, once clean and clinging close, but then hidden away and allowed to rot, becoming "good for nothing." This powerful image is a warning to God's people, Judah and Jerusalem, who refused to obey His words, who walked in the stubbornness of their hearts, and thus became like that rotted loincloth, having forgotten the God who desired them to cling to Him.

It's a stark reminder of what happens when we turn away from the source of life, when we refuse to listen, when we forget the one who gave us birth. We become, in a sense, "good for nothing" in terms of our true purpose, our relationship with God.

But then, in our Gospel, Jesus offers us a different vision, a vision of hope and growth, even from the smallest beginnings. He speaks of the Kingdom of heaven as a "mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants." And again, the Kingdom is like "yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened."

What a beautiful contrast! From something seemingly insignificant – a tiny seed, a bit of yeast – comes immense growth, transformation, and a place where "birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches." This is the power of God's Kingdom at work in the world, and in our lives.

Six weeks ago, our dear Benjamin Vo entered into eternal life. We remember Ben today, a young man whose gentle spirit and profound empathy touched so many. His family recalls how, at just twelve years old, he wept at his father’s birthday out of a premature fear of losing him, a quiet testament to the incredibly deep and beautiful bond they shared. That capacity for tender love, for deep connection, was a precious part of who Benjamin was.

Ben's life, though brief, was never "good for nothing." Quite the opposite. His gentle heart, his capacity for love, his deep bonds with his family, were like that mustard seed, planted in rich soil. From that small seed of a young life, immense love grew, and continues to grow, touching countless lives. Even now, through the "Well of Love" dedicated in his name in Vietnam, his legacy continues to bring life and hope, like the leaven that transforms the whole batch.

For his parents, Alan and Thao, for his brother Ryan, and for all his aunts, uncles, and loved ones, the grief is immense. It's natural to feel the weight of loss, to feel as if something precious has been hidden away and perhaps, in our sorrow, to fear it has rotted away. But Jesus reminds us that even the smallest seed of faith, the smallest act of love, holds the power of the Kingdom. Benjamin’s life was a testament to this truth, a gentle spirit that continues to bear fruit.

To Alan and Thao, to Ryan, and to all who grieve: Jesus sees your sorrow. He knows the depth of your love for Benjamin. And He promises that the Kingdom of heaven, like that mustard seed, grows in unexpected ways. To every family carrying a heavy cross, to every child who is suffering, whether you are here with us or tuning in from afar: God welcomes you, sees you, and holds you. May we find strength and hope in this truth, trusting that Benjamin now rests in the eternal embrace of our Lord, a gentle soul forever part of the great, thriving plant of God's Kingdom.