Surprise by God

Jesus draws many images from nature and daily life for what God’s Kingdom or presence among us is like. For instance, a garden or farm not only has desirable plants but it can also sprout weeds. Similarly, faith communities contain imperfect individuals at various states of spiritual growth.

In today’s Gospel, the farmer does not weed his field because that might also destroy good plants. So too God doesn’t not prune the community of believers, but waits until each person’s true nature is revealed. God is patient, allowing us time to mature, recognizing that something that initially looks bad might surprise us and turn out to be something very good.

The parables of the mustard seed and the leaven show that something very small can have a very large and surprising effect. The tiniest seed grows into a large bush while a small bit of yeast leavens an entire batch of flour.

Thus, those who presume that God is only to be found in magnificent buildings, major events or important people may be blind to God’s activity in and through what appears to be small and insignificant. But some of the greatest saints had humble beginnings and present their lives doing little things.

We need to be open so that we might be able to discover the next Francis of Assisi, Therese of Lisieux or Mother Teresa. The kingdom of heaven can fool us like as tiny mustard seed or a pinch of yeast.

John L. McLaughlin