Wednesday 30 May 2012

Background

What do a mustard seed and yeast have in common? They are justtwo of the very small things that Jesus uses in today's passage toexplore the very large concept of the kingdom of God.

What is a kingdom? It could simply be described as a geographicalor political territory ruled by a sovereign, or a realm in whichthere is a dominant leader. Although the word 'kingdom' may not bea commonly used word today, you need look no further than a popularscience fiction series or the surge of gang-related activities tosee that the concepts are 'kingdom' still are. In today's passage,Jesus would have been aware of what the concept of a 'kingdom' wasthen too, and proceeded to turn this definition and the perceptionof it on its head.

When Jesus asks himself the question: what is the kingdom of Godlike?, it is purely for the benefit of those listening, perhapsvoicing a question which may not have wanted to ask out loud, butwere keen to know the answer to. So Jesus asks and answers it usingtwo things with which his audiences would have been familiar.

First he says it is like a mustard seed, arguably the smallestseed, which when sown grows into something large enough for birdsto nest in. In other words, the kingdom of God is not to bemeasured by miles or kilometres, but by impact.

Then he says, it is like yeast, an unappetising raising agent thatmakes bread rise. In other words, the kingdom of God is not to bejudged by appearance but by influence.

In a story or conversation, there is something quite powerful abouta well-placed simile - comparing something to something else - andthere is something deliberate and powerful about Jesus' choice ofthings to compare the kingdom of God to in this text. Far frombelittling the kingdom of God, comparing it to the impact of a tinymustard seed and the influence of bland-looking yeast makes it seemaccessible and achievable. And far from being an advert for a tinyand bland existence without God, Jesus was promoting theopportunity for a fuller and abundant life with God.

To Ponder

What simile or comparison would you use todescribe the kingdom of God?

When you pray "your kingdom come", what imagescome into your mind?

Can you recall something you said or did that hada greater impact than you imagine? What happened?