Gospel Reading: Lk 13:18-21
JESUS 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.’ ”
Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”
REFLECTIONS: Mustard seed
“Mustard” (Greek sinapi) is a sizable annual plant with dark green leaves and yellow flowers. It has very small seeds, no bigger than the head of a pin. It can grow fast into a large bush, but since it is an annual plant, it does not grow to tree size. The picture of birds dwelling in its branches is a hyperbole to emphasize a point.
The parable of the mustard seed – like that of the yeast – pictures the Kingdom of God that, despite its insignificant beginnings in the person and ministry of Jesus, will eventually expand to all peoples of the earth, symbolized by the birds of the sky. Jesus’ audience may probably be shocked at the association of God’s reign with the tiniest of seeds. They expect God’s Kingdom to be inaugurated in a dramatic, earthshaking manner. Yet, as the tiny mustard seed can grow into a large shrub, Jesus’ humble ministry and the small community he gathers around himself will surely grow into something magnificent, embracing and sheltering all humanity. This parable is an encouragement to the community of Luke and to believers of all times: the Kingdom is moving towards its glorious manifestation.
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God often chooses the insignificant of the world to realize his grandest projects: think of the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, St. Therese of the Child Jesus, and St. Teresa of Kolkata.
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
