The Parables of the Mustard Seed and of the Yeast
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Lk 13:18-21
18[Jesus] said, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? 19It
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.’ ”
20Again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21It
is like yeast that a woman took and mixed [in] with three measures of
wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”
Reflection:
Mustard
seed… yeast. Both the mustard seed and the yeast are insignificant, but
at the end the smallest seed turns out to be the largest bush, and the
yeast mixed with wheat flour becomes a whole batch of leavened bread.
The two parables teach us two things.
First,
good things come from small beginnings. An insignificant thing can turn
out to be important. The ordinary can be special. Even though we are
small, insignificant, simple, or ordinary, we are still valuable,
special, or important in God’s eyes. God can bring about a reversal of
fortune.
Second,
there is the idea of growth. For the Christian, there must be change
for the better, a continuing improvement. We cannot remain passive or
stagnant. Not to progress is to regress or go backward. We cannot resign
or give up. We must grow and move forward.
God does not give up on us. God provides everything so that we can make progress in life and grow in his grace.
How do you encourage your brethren
who feel insignificant to be the best that they can be,
in life and in the service of the Church?
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