Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:31-35

Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds. “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, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.” He spoke to them another parable. “The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.” All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world.

Today’s gospel reading talks about growing the Kingdom of heaven.  The Kingdom, as Christ describes it, starts as a very small seed planted within our heart.  Through proper nourishment it grows into the “largest of plants.”  The mustard bush becomes so big that the “birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.”  As our own faith grows within us, it can attract others to the Kingdom just as the mustard tree attracted the birds of the sky.  They too want to eat the seed of life.  By your example, you attract others to the faith.  However, our faith cannot grow on its own.  It must be fed to grow and fill us.  Christ equates our faith to flour, without the yeast, it just remains a pile of flour.  But once the flour is stirred with the yeast, it grows.  It transforms the simple pile of flour into leaven bread.  Once we mix Christ into our lives, our lives begin to transform like the flour with the yeast mixed in with it.  In both parables, we must take action to grow the kingdom of heaven.  We must either plant the seed or mix in the yeast.  If we do not take action, the tree will not grow nor will the bread rise.  We must be willing to take action so that we too can lead others to the seeds of life.

A Simple Prayer

Lord God, You have filled me with the Holy Spirit.

May your Grace overflow in me; May it nourish my body;

May it grow within me so that I can provide shelter and security for others.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon