Power of Transformation

Homily for Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

With rather short parables, St. Luke describes growth in the Kingdom of God. I’m sure that we all realize that Christianity began with just a few people preaching the nearness of the Kingdom of God. With what began with a handful of followers, Jesus inaugurated a movement that would grow into an astounding community. Today about 2.4 billion people call themselves Christian. This means that about one third of the world’s population has heard the message of Jesus.

The Kingdom of God has vast, exponential transformative power. We, however, are not responsible for making that transformation happen; God is responsible for it. Yes, we have a part to play; we must welcome the invitation and participate in its life. However, it does not depend on us. God has provided the mustard seed and offered the yeast. God alone has created the environments for the seed and yeast to thrive and grow. We simply tend to the seed, we knead the dough; however, the grace of God changes and renews them from within, conforming them more and more to their perfect form which is completely different than their first appearance. The ordinary becomes extraordinary.

If God can do that with the mustard seed and a batch of dough, God can do that with each of us. God allows the Kingdom to take root in us and flourish if we cooperate with the grace that God bestows. In service to Christ, our words and deeds help grow the Kingdom in the world as well as in our own hearts. Hope is enkindled where there was none before.

On a practical level, this means that we must live our baptismal vocation of holiness by loving God and one another. We do it even when it is difficult, even when it seems self-defeating, and even when we suffer for it. We do it because we have already been transformed by Christ, and it is who we are now. The Kingdom of God brings with it the power of transformation.