June 8, 2021
Tuesday’s Thoughts on Scripture is from Mark 4:30-32 - [Jesus] also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” (NRSV)
Jesus teaches in parables - stories that come alongside lessons that have a way of sticking with us. And as stories go, they can have a different impact on each person. What one person understands as the essence of the lesson might contain a different nuance in the next. Then, the more we hear the parables, the more we get out of them. They are genius ways Jesus used to teach.
With this particular parable, we humans tend to get caught up in details (like the fact that the mustard seed is not the smallest of all seeds on earth), instead of receiving the overall message: the surprise, the mystery of God and what God can accomplish through even the smallest beginning. What we think of as something insignificant can grow into something huge, giving hope to hundreds of others.
This idea reminds me of the story of Family Promise (see this website for more information: Family Promise) How could a chance encounter someone had with an individual grow into a nationwide ministry? Much like the planting of a mustard seed - through God’s mystery.
My takeaway this time of hearing the parable - do not discount what seems insignificant because God can transform it into something major for the Kingdom of God.
Blessings. And prayers.
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