"The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed . . ."
Mark 4: 26-34
The Word for Sunday: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/061718.cfm
What might St. Francis of Assisi, St. Teresa of Calcutta, Bill
Gates, Walt Disney, Starbucks, or any marriage have in common? On the surface, there essentially seems to be
very little. I’m not sure that the
Coffee Giant Starbucks feels any affiliation to Francis of Assisi.
Yet, in one way, they all have one thing in common. In fact, Jesus implies the same in the
parables we hear this Sunday from Marks Gospel: they all started with something
very small and from that small idea or gathering around them, something very
large and significant took place. The
growth of the Franciscan movement, for example, began 800 years ago with one
somewhat radical and saintly person of Francis.
Mother Teresa began with a personal experience on the streets of poverty
in Calcutta, India and one dying man.
Today her order has grown worldwide as they serve the poorest of the
poor. Bill Gates began in a garage and
today his corporation of Microsoft has made him one of the wealthiest men in
the world and his technology has become an integral part of our everyday lives
everywhere. Growth happens quietly,
exponentially, maybe even unnoticed but over time, with the right help, it
becomes powerful. How much truer it is with God's grace.
Think of your own children and how quickly they grow from
little boys to men and little girls to young women. It all happens of its own
power that is mysterious and hidden from us.
The same seems true, Jesus implies in the parables, especially his
familiar one about the mustard seed, when considering the work of God in our
lives; the movement and effect of his grace.
So this weekend our scriptures bring us to reflect on how all
things, despite our inherent need to control everything, is fundamentally the
work of God which cannot be contained and will push forward of its own power to
fulfill God’s will and order of things.
What better imagery could Jesus use than that of nature, so
much a part of ancient life. In fact, our Lord uses images of nature and
agriculture so often we may want to refer to him by an new title as “Jesus the
Farmer.”
So, the “kingdom of God” is like one who goes through the
natural process of daily life, unawares of growth around him, but nonetheless
that transformation follows its own mysterious process silently but
inevitably. From a small seemingly
insignificant seed, planted in the ground, contains the potential to become a
large bush. Strange and miraculous it
seems for we do not see it or notice its potential but there it is. Some hidden force or influence brings it to
life. Jesus reminds his disciples to be
aware of such growth as ultimately to be of God’s design.
So, maybe the question for us is the nature of the “kingdom of
God.” Jesus spoke of this many times in
comparisons of what that kingdom is “like.”
Here we see that it has a power and plan to fulfill. Such is with Jesus’ earthly ministry and the
fulfillment of God’s salvation for humanity. His kingdom here does not refer so
much to a future life; what heaven might be like. But rather, Jesus implies that his kingdom
will grow here; it is something of this life and a foreshadow of its
fulfillment in glory as God establishes a new way of being for humanity. Those
who follow that new Way are members of his kingdom. We pray, “Your
will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
We often say that Jesus began with only twelve but today the
Christian faith has blossomed around the world to include billions of
believers. The Catholic faith alone has
over one billion who profess the Catholic faith united in Christ. Yet, rather than use an image of an oak tree
or cedar, tall strong and portraying the image of strength, Jesus uses a tiny
seed and a bush. Anyone of us might want
to compare our work to something which gives the image of strength or success. Yet, our Lord seems to be saying something
less obvious but more significant.
As he compares the kingdom of God to a small, tiny seed and a
large bush from that seed, it seems he might imply that God’s work in our life
is more ordinary than we realize. We
want the big drama, the quick answer, the flashy miracles. Yet, if we reflect on God’s work we see that
his will is carried out in ordinary ways, right before us.
Think of simple, saintly quiet people who do great things with
their lives in ordinary ways. A kind
gesture, faithfulness in marriage under challenging conditions as each spouse
grows older, a single parent who make great sacrifices for their children, one
who cares for the infirmed elderly with dignified compassion or a generous
donor who seeks no praise or recognition but gives for the common good of all. We might have the examples in our own
families, parishes, schools, or institutions and not even notice them. One who prays and seeks the path of holiness
is not often noticed but we see it in their kindness and gentleness. Those who love and serve unselfishly after Christ's example are members of the kingdom of God.
This is the growth that Jesus refers to and as each “seed” is
planted it exponentially brings about a great good. So, it seems the adage: “Look around you” to
see God at work and his grace fulfilling his will.
Jesus chose common bread and wine; how more ordinary and
frankly uninteresting could that be, to be transformed into his own body and
blood for our nourishment and transformation.
That became the “bread of life,” the “lord’s supper” and the source and
summit of the Christian life.
Once a journalist observed that Mother Teresa could never be
successful in meeting the needs of all the dying on the streets of
Calcutta. Her response simply said: “I am not called to be successful; I am
called to be faithful.” We sow seeds
but God grows.
O God, strength of those who hope in you,
graciously hear our pleas,
and, since without you mortal frailty can do nothing,
grant us always the help of your grace,
that in following your commands
we may please you by our resolve and our deeds.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Amen.
(Collect of Sunday)
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