Matthew 13:31–32 (NRSV)
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
Reflection:
The mustard seed is often sentimentalized—a symbol of small beginnings and quiet growth. But to Jesus’ original audience, mustard was not charming. It was invasive. Farmers did not carefully cultivate it in the center of their fields because once planted, it spread unpredictably. It crossed boundaries. It disrupted order. When Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, he is not describing tidy expansion. He is describing growth that refuses containment.
We prefer a manageable faith—one that exists comfortably within designated spaces like Sunday worship, personal devotion, and moral self-improvement. A compartmentalized faith feels safe; it allows us to affirm spiritual beliefs without disturbing our public lives. But a mustard seed doesn’t stay in compartments. It pushes outward, creating shelter in places that weren’t prepared to host it. Birds nest in its branches not because someone planned for them, but because growth makes room.
The parable also challenges our obsession with size. The seed is the smallest of all seeds. It looks dismissible. Insignificant. We often underestimate what begins quietly because we judge importance by visibility. But the kingdom does not announce itself before it grows. It advances beneath the surface before it becomes undeniable. This should unsettle both our despair and our pride. We are not responsible for controlling growth — but we are responsible for whether we will resist it.
If abundance disrupts scarcity, then the kingdom disrupts confinement. Faith cannot remain private if God’s reign is real. The deeper question for Lent is not whether we believe in the kingdom, but whether we are willing to let it influence our work decisions, civic actions, economic habits, and relational limits. A mustard seed does not ask for permission before it spreads.
Application:
This week, do one thing that pushes your faith beyond its usual limits — have a conversation you’ve been avoiding, show up somewhere you normally wouldn’t, or offer something concrete to someone outside your usual circle.
Writing Prompt:
What do you fear might happen if your faith were to leave its proper place?
Prayer:
God whose reign cannot be contained,
uproot our preference for safe religion.
Make us a community where the unexpected find shelter
and the uninvited find room.
Amen.