A Good Story

Nothing tops a good story, and today we are blessed with two of them. In the first story, the reign of God is compared to a seed that sprouts without the farmer’s knowledge. It is the same for us. We often go along day after day, week after week, and sometimes it seems as though nothing is happening. We wonder if all of our work is really worth it. Then all of a sudden, just when we are ready to give up, we can look around and see that something we have been nourishing is actually starting to flower.
The second story concerns the mustard seed. We can imagine Jesus holding up a tiny mustard seed, or maybe a number of them as he tells this story. We give different names to the Church. The names reveal different ways of thinking and being Church. For example, we call Church “the people of God.” This creates a picture of a group of people guided by God. We might also call the Church “the body of Christ.” This implies an arrangement of organs or functions headed by Christ. This emphasizes the structure of the Church even as it makes a point about its unity. Jesus chose a different image. Instead of using order, function, or efficiency, he thought of life and growth. He said, “The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed.” From a small beginning comes gigantic results. This also tells us that we, the Church, should be about cultivating love. It is often difficult for us to express love or even to own love. However, the whole idea of Christianity is simple love: real, honest, and personal. Unfortunately, we are often inhibited, almost shy about being “loving.” Again, that is too bad because the whole message of the Gospel is love. The Church is commanded to spread and live that love! Love is embodied in Scripture, enfleshed in Jesus, and lived in the saints. Woe to the Church if she does not pass on that love. Above all else, it is the Church’s business to respond like God to the human need for love. Jesus did not come to frighten us out of our wits! Jesus did not even come to give us detailed instructions for living. He did come to show us, that to live fully, we must be free to love one another! Love can be risky. All of us are at times afraid of getting hurt and we need reassurance. That is the work of the Church, to show us that the risk is indeed worthwhile, and that love is truly possible, and that God’s love makes our human love holy. You and I, of course, are the Church! We are accountable as the Church, and so, as the people of God, as the body of Christ, as the mustard seed that must grow, so too we must grow! And so, we better start cultivating those mustard seeds of love.