A Homily on Matthew 13:31–35 : Hidden Holiness (28-7-25)

Reflect on how God’s Kingdom grows in silence and hiddenness through a touching homily on Matthew 13:31–35, inspired by the life of St. Alphonsa (28-7-25)

Praise be to Jesus Christ 

There was once a young man who inherited a piece of land from his grandfather. It was rocky and dry. Many said, “There’s nothing here.” But instead of selling it, he began clearing the stones each morning. He dug deep pits and carried manure from the village. No one noticed what he was doing. After many months of work, he planted some seeds. Still, nothing happened for weeks. People laughed and called him a fool.Then one day, tiny green shoots appeared. In two years, the once-forgotten land became a fruitful orchard. The same people who mocked him now came for shade and fruit. But no one remembered the long days of silent labour. It was all done in hiddenness.

Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed… and like yeast hidden in three measures of flour.” What is common in both is that God’s kingdom begins and grows in secret, in silence, in places no one notices.

This hiddenness is not weakness. It is how God works. The greatest works of God often begin unseen — in the womb of a mother, in the silence of prayer, in the small ‘yes’ spoken to God. Think of how Jesus came into the world — not with trumpet blasts, but in a quiet stable. Thirty years of His life were hidden in Nazareth. Yet in that hidden life, the kingdom was already growing.

In our family life, the holiest moments are often hidden. No one claps for the mother who wakes up early to pray for her children. No one sees the father who silently sacrifices for the family. No one records the soft words of forgiveness between a husband and wife. But heaven sees. God’s kingdom grows in these hidden ways.

Today we also celebrate the feast of St. Alphonsa, a simple, suffering soul from , Kerala, India. While she was alive in the convent, no one really noticed her. She never preached in public, never held a mic, never travelled the world. She chose the little path — just like St. Therese of the Child Jesus — trying to hide in the heart of Jesus. Her life was filled with pain and hidden sacrifice, but she offered it all in love. Now look — the seed that was hidden in a small convent cell has grown into a great tree. People across the world hear about Jesus through her life.

She shows us that holiness is not about being seen, but about being faithful. Sprouting of a seed is a hidden mystery of nature which no scientist has yet observed. A seed breaks itself and nurtures a new generation. As Bible quotes :”Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” St. Alphonsa has explored the beauty of this self-denial and self -emptying. Her hidden life now spreads the fragrance of Christ everywhere.

Even in the Old Testament, when the prophet Elijah was hiding in a cave, God did not come in fire or thunder, but in a still small voice. God is not absent in the hidden places. He is most present there.

So maybe today you feel small, unnoticed, forgotten. But the Gospel says, do not lose heart. What is hidden in love will one day be revealed in glory. God’s kingdom grows quietly, but surely.

Let us remain faithful in small things. Let us be mustard seeds. Let us be hidden yeast. That is how the kingdom of God grows — in our families, in our hearts, in our world.

Lord Jesus, like St. Alphonsa,  help me to hide in your heart  that I may experience the depth of you love.

If you find this reflection meaningful and useful, please share it with others

The Team Search offers retreats, recollections, and classes for religious and others on different Biblical themes, the Eucharist, prayer, spiritual direction, Missiology, English phonetics (basic & advanced), Mariology, Sacraments,  the Desert Fathers and more. If you find it hard to get a resource person for any Christian topic, we are happy to assist you. Contact: thesearch1994@gmail.com

God Bless…