Slow Growth

 Luke 13: 18-21

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast

¹⁸ Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? ¹⁹ It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”

²⁰ Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? ²¹ It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

Yes, the mustard seed grows into a tree and  yeast-driven dough multiplies 3-4 times its original size.  Can you imagine how much dough 60 pounds of flour would make? How huge would the mixing bowl be? How many loaves would result?  One could start a bakery!  The seed and the yeast have these things in common: tiny quantities and TIME, with accompanying labor, patience and care. A tee does not grow overnight, nor does dough rise in a minute...Warmth, moisture, trust and time do their trick.  And so it is with our spiritual growth.  We set our hearts on a deeper relationship with our loving God, we have all the directives and helps Jesus left us as well as the sacraments and guidance of our spiritual leaders,  our cultivators, if you will, who help us grow and keep focused during the LIFELONG process. The "old self" must die, for the "new self" to grow.  A constant challenge and sometimes, battle. There's no escape.  May we learn to put ourselves totally in the hands of the Divine Cultivator and Bread-maker!

Bro. Rene