Open Our Hearts to Understand

 

 Matthew 13:31-35

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

³¹ Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, ³² which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

The Parable of the Leaven

³³ Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”

Prophecy and the Parables

³⁴ All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, ³⁵ that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

“I will open My mouth in parables;
I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”

Chapter 13 in Matthew is the "Parable Chapter". Jesus used this simple technique to illustrate his point with familiar examples so that his point would be clearly understood.  We are not familiar with fields of mustard, nor have we ever seen a mustard seed as much as we love mustard on our hot dogs. Not many of us bake bread anymore, but if we did, we'd be amazed at the power of small package of yeast to change a small lump of dough  into a large mountain that needs to be punched down but rises again even bigger.  Yes, the parables have endured for 2000 years and help us get a glimpse of what can be, or better, what IS!  The kingdom of God continues to rise and grow in our hearts from our baptism as infants to our lives as adults. We foster its growth by patience and consistent acts of kindness, a comforting, supportive word, a phone call, an e-mail. How can I be the leaven in the loaf of someone's heart today?

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, you teach us that small simple acts or words of kindness can grow and have significant effects. Open my heart understand this simple truth and incorporate it into my words and actions today. Amen.