Thoughts for the Day

Jesus 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.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Jesus uses the example of the mustard seed as the way the Kingdom of Heaven grows from something very small to something enormous. The black and white mustard seed is around 1 - 3 mm, not the smallest of seeds but perhaps the smallest you could plant in the ground. The smallest are actually like dust and belong to the orchid family, which one wouldn't grow in a field in Israel.

Jesus has just told them the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13.1-9) where he shows what happens to faith, how the seed dies unless it's grown in fertile soil. The Parable of the Mustard Seed shows what happens to faith when it finds that fertile soil in a person's life, and how the Kingdom of Heaven will grow in our world. With God's help nothing is impossible, for faith is a gift from God. It comes from the Holy Spirit, given to us by Jesus Christ. We are not born with faith, but we receive it as we continue to trust in Jesus as our Saviour and Redeemer.

Wherever there is love we shall see evidence of the Kingdom. Today, when a tiny seed of faith starts to grow in us we shall find God's Kingdom to be a place of peace, joy, and contentment, and our problems and worries begin to ease as God gives us the strength and courage to overcome the trials of this life.

Lord Jesus Christ,
sometimes our faith is as small
as a mustard seed,
and the doubts crowd in
to consume us.
May we grasp hold of the tiny seedling
and with the help of the Holy Spirit
allow it to grow,
giving us the courage to experience
Your peace and joy and contentment,
as we place our problems in Your hands.
Amen.