Then he said, "What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a person took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and 'the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.'" Luke 13:18-19
Piety
God, transform our hearts and our ambitions. Society wants us to be upwardly mobile like a California Redwood. Instead, help us to aspire to more humble pursuits of service and friendship and grace. Teach us how to be subordinate to one another – our spouse, our children, our siblings, our parents, our co-workers, our neighbors and our enemies. Help the work of your creation dwell in our hearts. Amen.
Study
From small beginnings grow great and tremendous efforts. From the birth of a baby in a manger in Bethlehem, we now have the Holy Catholic Church and all the Christian churches throughout the world.
Jesus doesn’t talk about the great cedars of Lebanon today. He talks of the small mustard seed, which grows into what some would call a bush. See these images that his audience would have known well (not the penny of course, that's just there for scale).
From this mustard seed…
...to this!
This is the image he leaves people with of the Kingdom of Heaven. Rather than comparing heaven to a great palace, the most beautiful flower, the largest trees, or the greatest ruler, Jesus uses an image of a bush that serves people in many ways. It is:
* A bush that the birds dwell in.
* A bush that the birds eat the seeds off.
* A bush that renders a spice which makes food tastier.
* A spice that also served physicians with medicinal properties.
See a short history of the mustard seed[1] at the Whole Foods web site.
How interesting for the Church leaders to pair up this parable with the story in Ephesians today. Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:21)
This is so counter-cultural. From our Little League teams to our favorite professional sports teams, we impose archetypal images of greatness with our diversions. Even our Catholic Schools have their noble mascots. The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. The Boston College Eagles. The Georgetown Bulldogs.
However, our Good News is rooted in service and suffering. The parable of the mustard seed is repeated in almost all of the Gospels. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is not alone in advancing this simple mustard seed perspective. Elsewhere in the Epistles, he expands on this idea.
Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others, knowing that you will receive from the Lord the due payment of the inheritance; be slaves of the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will receive recompense for the wrong he committed, and there is no partiality. Colossians 3:23-25
But if you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. 1 Peter 2:20-25
Action
It only takes a spark to get a fire going. Light a spark by finishing “palanca” letters to the women who will attend the 123 Cursillo at St. Joseph’s Seminary this weekend (November 2-5). Remember, the letter is not the palanca but the action you offer in service to them is what will support them on their journey.
[1] http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=106
Photos from internet. Mustard seeds by David Turner February 23, 2005. Found on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Mustard.png). Mustard plants in vineyard by John Alves and shown at www.AllPosters.com.
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