Of Yeast and Mustard Seeds

Homily for Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Today’s passage from the Gospel of St. Luke features two elements that have one thing in common. Seeds and yeast both have the power to increase gently. On several occasions during our visits from the occupational therapist group from Lewis University, we have planted seeds of various wildflowers. Those who have been able to keep the cups of dirt watered sufficiently have seen those tiny seeds grow into something much larger. Yeast, of course, is used in baking breads with various flours. St. Luke’s uses these elements to describe the Kingdom of God.

Most, if not all of us here this morning are experiencing the aging process which is not about growth but rather diminishment. We are grappling with issues of disability and chronic pain and illness. Yet while the physical aspect of our lives is not about growth, we all have the opportunity and the ability to grow spiritually. When speaking of the Kingdom of God, it is the spiritual realm that is our focus. All of us still have the ability to practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Our life together is about praying for and with one another, assisting one another in our day-to-day activity, and performing simple acts of compassion and mercy for one another. These will yield great increase much the same as the mustard seed and yeast that are the subject of the parable from St. Luke’s Gospel.

The Kingdom of God is at hand, but also not yet. The Scriptures for today help us to glimpse the Kingdom around us, and how God is revealed to us in each day. God is revealed to us as we work together to plant the mustard seeds to show the powerful transformation of this world. Our work will never be done. One way that this can be clearly seen is through our interaction with the young people from Lewis University whose visits not only provide us with assistance, but, more importantly, help the students to reach their goals of certification as occupational therapists. The next time that they bring seeds for us to plant, let us remember the parable of the mustard seed as we each continue the work of bringing God’s Kingdom to fulfillment.