Luke 13:18-21 | James 3:1-5
The kingdom of God is quite an image. And it is an image. God (through Jesus) is using an image known to humans to describe how God’s way/message/being works. And the parameters of the image are important. It could never be “Democracy of God” or “Congress of God” or “Nation of God.”
It’s Kingdom because there is only one authority at the end of the day. And the throne is divinely given, not to be taken away. The good news is that the king is good.
But Jesus adds to the image with more imagery in today’s passage. And it’s beautiful.
Though a kingdom, God’s way doesn’t begin by force or mass effort. It’s small and it grows, overtaking beautifully and naturally, working in and through all things. It becomes a sanctuary for the little ones. It becomes fresh food for all.
But it starts small.
Luke 13:18-21
Jesus asked, “What is God’s kingdom like? To what can I compare it? It’s like a mustard seed that someone took and planted in a garden. It grew and developed into a tree and the birds in the sky nested in its branches.”
Again he said, “To what can I compare God’s kingdom? It’s like yeast, which a woman took and hid in a bushel of wheat flour until the yeast had worked its way through the whole.”
James 3:1-5
My brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers, because we know that we teachers will be judged more strictly. We all make mistakes often, but those who don’t make mistakes with their words have reached full maturity. Like a bridled horse, they can control themselves entirely. When we bridle horses and put bits in their mouths to lead them wherever we want, we can control their whole bodies.
Consider ships: They are so large that strong winds are needed to drive them. But pilots direct their ships wherever they want with a little rudder. In the same way, even though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts wildly.
Think about this: A small flame can set a whole forest on fire.
Prayer
God,
I’m still trying to wrap my head around your vast power, the scope of your creation/creativity, and your abilities to see all, know all that can be known, and all that.
…and that you chose to occupy a single human, beginning at birth. It’s hard to fathom and quite frankly, doesn’t make sense (to me, at least).
But I do think I get the nature of the movement: you want us to know you are for all, regardless of the measuring we humans do, our quest for big towers and buildings and more, more, more.
So help me, God: to see today the little things. And help me not to see them for their possible great potential, as real as that potential may be. But help me see the small things for their beauty just as they are.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.