DAILY GRACE
October 27, 2020, Tuesday of the 30th Week of Ordinary Time
Scripture: Luke 13:18-21
He said therefore, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.’
And again he said, ‘To what should I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.’
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Meditation:
“‘. . . mustard seed . . . yeast . . .“
When I think of God, adjectives like almighty, strong, awe-inspiring, and magnificent come to mind. So much in Scripture speaks about God’s grandeur that it seems contradictory to describe the kingdom of God in terms of tiny mustard seeds and yeast as in today’s Gospel.
What’s Jesus saying here? He is using images of small things that will become great or will have great effects. We are also reminded that God is found not just in the big things in life, but in the small ones as well. While we can stand in awe at the sight of a majestic tree, that tree began as a seed that grew into a little sapling. Small events or things can lead to greater ones, like a pebble thrown into a pond that causes ever-widening ripples. Just so, a small act of love and kindness, which is a clue to the presence of God’s kingdom, can lead to more acts of loving kindness or more signs of God’s kingdom. God is present in small, everyday things: in the wave a child gives as you pass by, or the loaf of banana bread a friend happens to bring you. These small gestures make us smile and brighten our day. They can help us act with kindness toward others, thus making God’s kingdom present.
Prayer
Open my eyes, Lord, that I may see your presence in everything, both the great and the small. May I also be an active participant in this kingdom. You ask not for great acts, but that I do all things with love and kindness, thus making your kingdom visible on earth. Give me the grace to do so. Amen.
Contemplation
Open my eyes, Lord!