(Audio)
The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed
that a person took and sowed in a field.
It is the smallest of all the seeds,
The mustard seed is so small. It doesn't seem like a large bush would be the result of something so small. The potential it possesses is hidden by its superficial appearance. The amount of yeast mixed with three measures (about 50 pounds) of wheat flour seems insignificant by comparison to the amount of wheat. We would assume that if we want a big bush a bigger seed would be needed. A non-baker might intuit that he would need to overwhelm the flour with the yeast in order to leaven the batch. But in fact "too much yeast could cause the dough to go flat by releasing gas before the flour is ready to expand" (see this site). That is fascinating, and entirely in keeping with Kingdom logic.
The potential of the Kingdom to influence and transform the world does not seem like enough. Faithful Catholics are a minority, and even we are so flawed that it is hard expect the world to count on us. We seem like a seed unlikely to be able to become a bush which can welcome all the birds of the sky. We seem too few in number to make any impact in the places where we are mixed with the world.
We need faith to take Jesus at his word about the Kingdom. We are called to believe in and rely on the power of the Gospel even when it is hidden. If we want a large bush that can welcome the birds we have to trust in the seed long before the results are evident. If we want our dough to rise and become delicious we need to trust in the ratio of yeast to flour that the Divine Baker prescribes. This is what faith means. The Kingdom does not grow or take shape without it.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (see Hebrews 11:1).
Abraham planted and cared for the seed by his faith long before he saw the results. He had every human reason to question how following God to unknown lands and even sacrificing his only son could have the results promised by God. Like him we are called to believe in a God "who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist" (see Romans 4:17), even to the point of "hoping against hope" (see Romans 4:18).
We are called to believe, to trust, and not only that, but to actually live counting on the promised results. We don't have to be afraid to engage the world because we know that we have a hidden source that can provide food and a home for all peoples. It is the same principle in the multiplication of the loaves (see Matthew 14:13-21). We are called to use what we have as God directs us and count on him to make it sufficient. Indeed there will be baskets left over.
If we don't plant the seed, if we hold back the leaven, if we do not share our loaves and fishes, what will become of the world? What will become of us? If we don't follow God's plan and design we tend to fall for counterfeit plans and substitute kingdoms.
This wicked people who refuse to obey my words,
who walk in the stubbornness of their hearts,
and follow strange gods to serve and adore them,
shall be like this loincloth which is good for nothing.
It is vital to realize that we are made for God, to be satisfied by him alone, and the only way to attain this proimise is to walk by faith.
For, as close as the loincloth clings to a man’s loins,
so had I made the whole house of Israel
and the whole house of Judah cling to me, says the LORD;
to be my people, my renown, my praise, my beauty.
May we not forget God who gave us birth, even when his workings are hidden, even when we seem overwhelmed. Yet even if we should forget him he is still
faithful. He continues to call us back and to offer us the wisdom we need.
I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation
of the world.
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