18 He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”
20 And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”
The faith of a mustard seed is about willingness. It does not seek to control its environment. Neither does it try to be something it's not. It is content with being such a tiny seed. When used poorly, mustard can overpower any recipe that it's in, but when used properly it enhances flavor beautifully. The faith of a mustard seed is willing to be used humbly, without the need to over-assert itself. The faith of a mustard seed is willing to grow.
Growing means reaching both upward to the sun and downward to the earth. The seed doesn't know which way is up and which way is down, but something directs it. That something is God. As it grows downward, being rooted and grounded in love, the seed receives all the nutrients it needs. As it grows upward, it gets sunlight and rain which feed it. It grows and spreads, just like the Realm of God does, until what was once a tiny seed has become a great bush.
Jesus said this bush becomes a shelter for all kinds of birds. It's not just one kind of bird but all kinds make their nests in these branches. This nurturing means being a shelter for people, and not destroying them. It means accepting their weight upon my branches and their waste on my roots. Having the faith of a mustard seed means that this kind of nurture comes naturally, because I am rooted in Christ and receive his energy like the rays of the sun. This love then extends from myself to my family, community, country, world, and universe.
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