Reading
Luke 13:18-21
18 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”
20 Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
Comment
The idea of the kingdom of God that extends itself like a majestic tree, in the shadow of which all the nations gather, recalls some messianic passages from the Old Testament (Ez 17:23; 31:6). The words of Jesus are an invitation to patience and hope, to overcome the obsession with accounting in considering the growth of the Church and our spiritual progress. Jesus exhorts us to focus on quality, on that yeast capable of making all the dough ferment.
The parables of the mustard seed and the leaven highlight the striking contrast between the small beginnings of the Kingdom and its marvelous expansion. The two images represent the action of God, which takes place silently and in secret. The work of grace in our souls and in the world does not happen in a sudden and "thunderous" way, but can be seen by ears capable of listening and eyes capable of seeing what works in secret; it needs a heart capable of waiting, like the farmer who sows and like the woman who prepares bread.
From the small signs, we can guess an outcome that will be surprising, represented in these two parables by the majesty of the mustard bush where the birds take refuge and by the quantity of flour - about sixty kilograms! - that little yeast makes bread. The Kingdom of God will thus be able to welcome men of every people and nation and will be able to satisfy all those who hunger and thirst for justice.
Prayer
O Lord, increase our faith so that our eyes can open to the work that your grace does ceaselessly in our hearts. Amen.
- Rev. Dr. Luca Vona
