God’s Kingdom is like a Mustard Seed

Readings: 1^st: Eph 5:21-33; Ps 127; Gos: Lk 13:8-21

This brief reflection was written by Fr. Njoku Canice Chukwuemeka, C.S.Sp. He is a Catholic Priest and a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans). He is a missionary in Puerto Rico, the island of enchantment. He is the Chancellor of the Dioceses of Fajardo-Humacao, Puerto Rico; the Parish Priest of Parroquia la Resurrección del Senor, Canóvanas and the Major Superior of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), Circumscription of Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. For more details and comments contact him at:  canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com, canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com.

Today, Tuesday of the thirtieth week of ordinary time, Luke presents us Christ’s parable of the mustard seed and yeast.

This Gospel reading has its parallel in Mt 13:31-35. In life, most things that eventually become great begin like small seeds sown into the earth.

For example, most mega businesses in our world today started in small apartments. Most living organisms begin their life from small seed from semen or pollen.  

In today’s gospel, Christ used the parable of the mustard seed and yeast to illustrate how the word of God develops, and the mystery of the kingdom of God present in our life.

One important point to note in both parables is the measure (size and quantity) of the elements involved. They are both small, but eventually, develop into something great.

At first, they looked insignificant, but after some time, they produced something very significant and great that benefits others.

In both cases, before this significant success of these elements, the seed and the yeast must first undergo transformation by losing their identity. They equally interact with, and transform their environment as they develop.

What do we learn from these two similar parables today? Like both the mustard seed and the yeast, the word of God is the seed of the God’s kingdom that has been sown in our life.

It does not matter how little we have heard it, or at what point in our life we received it. What matters is that, if it finds a fertile place in us, it will transform us into something precious and beautiful.

This kingdom grows in us every day. It grows through the preaching we hear every day, and eventually touches the life of others positively.

It grows through the witness of our Christian family and community, and equally becomes Christ’s good news which radiates light, attracts, and transforms other people around us.

So, the kingdom of God is not something abstract, it is within and around us, and it continues developing every day. It is here now, and equally in the future, because Christ reigns in us and will reign forever. Amen.

Peace be with you

Maranatha!