He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’ - Matthew 13:31-32
He said to them, ... For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there”, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” - Matthew 17:20
“I have a mustard seed, and I’m not afraid to use it.” - Someone, maybe you
A small seed planted in the ground, nourished by the earth and watered by the heavens, begins to sprout in silent darkness. Someone was given that seed - perhaps like a coconut grasped by its husk and dropped by a swallow.* And someone planted it. When given and planted and nourished, it goes from seed to tree. Jesus uses this bit of horticultural knowledge to illustrate the growth of God’s Kingdom planted on earth. He was explaining to those with ears to listen that the Kingdom has arrived, but as a small seed quietly planted and not as a big bang. Yet the bang for the seed will be big, so big that it becomes something beyond its natural limits. What should be the greatest of shrubs by divine inspiration becomes a great tree. The tree in turn provides shelter for all those who like birds need a place of sanctuary, of rest and renewal, before going back out to do the things birds do. Like scatter more seeds and depending on migration and airspeed velocity, maybe even coconuts.*
Jesus often spoke in such parables. Parables tease the mind into thinking. Do you want to know what faith is like? Do you want to know if faithfulness matters? Here is a parable for you. The kingdom of heaven is like four couples who began to meet in each other’s homes, but when that meeting grew over the next 75 years it became a church where birds from all over now land and make their home.
Within that time was a lot of seed planting, a lot of faithful giving of time, talent, and treasure nourished and multiplied by God’s grace. Faith is powerful stuff and this church is witness to that power. It makes trees out of shrubs. It moves heaven and earth.
Someone once said “I have a mustard seed, and I’m not afraid to use it.” As we begin our intentional season of stewardship, we are asked to fearlessly consider what powerful mustard seeds of time, talent, and treasure we might commit to the ministries and mission of the church in 2027. With God’s help may they grow from what is possible into things impossible, providing more than we can ask or imagine, making the Kingdom of Heaven manifested in our region, providing shelter and provision for all the birds who land here.
God’s grace and peace and faithfulness be yours,
Fr. Bill+