The small that grows

Luke 13:18-21

18 He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? 19 It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”

20 And again he said, “To what should I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”

The word “therefore” in vs. 18 links these two parables to what has come before. The link I think is this: the mustard seed is very small and grows into something that birds can nest in. The woman who had been crippled for 18 years is not important, is not a “big” deal. Her healing is a small thing. The yeast is very little in comparison to 3 measures (probably means bushels of flour) but all the flour will feel the impact of the yeast. The healing of the woman is a very little thing in all of the events of Jesus’ life. But we are told the story of the healing, and this small action on Jesus’ part has had ripple effects through time as the woman’s story is told and re-told.

The kingdom of God is not made up of grand, large, dramatic events – it is made up of small events – like the mustard seed and yeast. It is made up of events in which ordinary people living ordinary lives choose to follow Jesus in ways that seem small and unimportant, but which have ripple effects through the years. The faithful acts of Jesus’ followers, signs of the kingdom of God, will grow for they are part of the kingdom’s growing reality in the world.

So often we look for the grand and spectacular, the attention-grabbing and highly visible, instead the kingdom grows unseen, unnoticed – only its results are seen – birds in the nests and rising bread. Unseen the kingdom grows and we are invited to participate unseen in its growth.

PRAYER:

God of grace, your kingdom is made of seemingly unimportant and impossibly small things. You take the small and grow it to the surprise of all. Teach to not look down on the small. Teach us to hope in the small signs of your kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.