Power of the Mustard Seed

Have you ever had the experience where you’re explaining something to someone and you look into their eyes and you can tell they’re just not getting it? And then you realize they don’t get it because it’s just not part of their life experience. They don’t see because they haven’t lived in that world. I think that is where Jesus finds himself in today’s Gospels. He is trying to explain the “Kingdom of God” to people that were used to a different way of life.

When Jesus entered the world, the overriding reality for the Jews was “might makes right.” Life was defined by who had the biggest army, who could defeat the one regime in power. It had been that way for the last 900 years. When Jesus came the Jew only knew a life of obedience to power of sword. They were driven from their land, separate from their community and even from their family because of the power of “might makes right.” First it was the Assyrians, then Babylon, then the Persians, Greeks and finally the Romans. Each had an army bigger than the one before. Each was more overwhelming than the lastand the Jews had nothing they could do but wait on their Messiah to come be their king.

Now Jesus could have established a kingdom based on might, it was Jesus. Jesus tells us several times in scripture: “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt 26:53). If you think a field full of soldiers and chariots is powerful, try legends of mighty angels coming from the heavens! There is no earthly kingdom that could stand up against God’s heavenly judgement.

But Jesus understood: 1)that “might makes right” only commands the moment. 2) there is no joy in a forced relationship. Jesus had no interested in a forced kingdom. This new kingdom would not force our submission, it would call us to willingly submit our hearts to him so he can redeem them. He was showing us a new battleground. A battleground for our hearts.

If you’ve been around scriptures a while, you likely heard about the mustard seed. You likely heard that they are the tiniest of seeds, more like the size of grain, that grows into the tallest of the plants. That if each seed, when properly planted and nurtured, will grow to as tall as 20ft high and have a crown just as wide as the plant is tall. You also know that just a small handful of seeds can overtake your garden. And of course we all know of yeast, how a small amount of yeast causes internal reactions to cause the dough to rise to produce a bountiful meal. Each of these are a great analogy or parable for our faith.

But Since Jesus knows the Jews want him to be their earthly king, we must first ask ourselves, was he using the mustard seed and yeast to explain an earthly kingdom that would impact their world, or was it a heavenly Kingdom for th next life? The answer is yes.

One the things I love about our faith, the power of the both/and theology. Our mind usually defaults to either/or mode when two answers seem to contradict the other. But some of the most powerful truths of our faith come from both/and. The first of course, is Jesus himself. Is Jesus fully human or fully divine? The power in his truth is that he was both. It’s what allows us to relate to the one that redeems now, on this earth, and for eternity. One or the other is not as powerful as both. That is also the power of the mustard seed, it is truth is ours both now and in God’s heavenly kingdom. It is both/and.

Jesus is describing the power he makes available to redeem our hearts now and for all of eternity. But what is that power, what are we really talking about.

It is Jesus. The mustard seed we plant is Jesus himself. His truth, his ways. All we have to do is plant his truths in our heart with obedience, water it with daily prayer and the Sacraments, and feed it with acts of love

The tiny size of the seed represents the amount of our faith at that moment, and our awareness of the intensity of God’s love and how much we need his redemption. But it’s okay, growth is coming.

Jesus has shown us a new battleground. One filled with the Spirit. It changes us from “It’s all about me” to “It’s not me, but Christ who lives in me.” The mustard seed produces a bountiful garden. That is how the mustard seed becomes far mightier than the sword. The power of “might makes right” wins the moment, but the love of Christ wins our hearts. And when you win a heart, you win them forever.

Think about any saint. They all have the mustard seed at the center. The yeast of Christ was obvious in them all. For example, Mother Theresa, heard God’s call, she planted the seed in obedience, she watered it with prayer, and they her loving acts produced a bounty that was only possible by the power of Jesus.

· I love the story of one of her sisters saying “mother Theresa, we have so much to do today, do we have time for our daily hour of prayer? She responded, we do have a lot to do today! We better do two hours instead.” I believe that is the both/and theologyof our faith.

However, if we desire growth, We have to plant his ways in our heart of obedience, water it with prayer and sacraments, and nurture it with acts of love. We can’t cheat the process. I know this because I have a tree in my backyard that is dead as a doornail. I missed one week! And it’s a goner. Fortunately, God has more grace than that…

But we do have to ask ourselves, “are we properly tending the seed of Jesus in our lives well enough to grow a tree whose crown in heaven is as wide as the plant is high?” Are we planting his truths in obedience, watering daily with prayer and sacraments, and feeding with the acts of love God lays before us in our day? If upon reflection we find we’re not where we should be one each of these three. Let’s choose one of them ask God’s helpus consistently in care for the seed he placed in our heart.

Just imagine what it will be like in the new life, as the powers of this world are burned away. What will the joy be like when we enter heaven with a heart full of mustard seeds. Let the yeast of heaven begin.

Let us lift a Word of thanks as we prepare our heart for receiving the Eucharist, the ultimate mustard seed of Jesus. Where both God’s earthly and heavenly Kingdom meet. Praise be to God!