“Small and inauspicious beginnings”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Saturday, November 4, 2023
Matthew 13:31-35 (Forward, p. 6) CEV p. 999
Today’s two parables, the ones about the Mustard Seed and the Yeast, have long been an inspiration to me, especially when it comes to my ministry. Often, whether in rural ministry or in ministry in urban settings, the results—progress, hopefully—seems to come so very slowly, if it all. In fact, at times, it almost seems as if your efforts and those of others are in vain for all the noticeable effect and impact they have. And so today’s parables give me much hope and consolation.
The one about the mustard seed reminds us that small beginnings, seemingly insignificant beginnings, have little or no bearing or relation to the ultimate results. And certainly, this is true with our words. A word of praise or encouragement can be like a breath of fresh air to someone who’s struggling, and so too, can a word of reproach or criticism—it can be like a cold draft from the Arctic. And likewise, a seemingly unimportant action can also have a great impact. A little bit can have immense results. And so, in this light, we should just continue plodding on with our small incremental steps, never knowing what will come of them but trusting that the Lord will make use of them, nevertheless.
And the parable of the yeast reminds us that an almost microscopic start and grow and grow and grow until it almost ‘takes over,’ such is its impact, and that, altogether unseen and unnoticed. It does its work altogether in secret. That reminds me that our words and actions all too often have their impact totally unbeknownst to us—whether in the church, the community or in other peoples’ lives. And, to me, this is a great encouragement as well, for far too often, I wonder just ‘what I have done or achieved.’ I need to know that God is at work there, whether I realize it or see it, or not. Thanks be to Him for His patient and continual work. Amen.
Forward notes: “A mustard seed…is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it…becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches” (verses 31-32).
“I’d been edgy for weeks, and my family was suffering. Then, one Sunday, I became teary while hearing this parable.
“Why did this passage, which I had heard many times before, have such a powerful effect? I had begun a new hospice chaplain job and was about to interview for another. I still had not lost the weight I’d put on since my second spiral surgery and was frustrated with the painfully slow pace of physical therapy. I’d been struggling to re-establish my physical and spiritual exercise regimens, reclaim the weed-choked flowerbed, and many other things.
“Suddenly, I knew: I’d been trying to plant a tree for myself when what I needed was to plant a seed and trust God that it would grow—to cultivate it one day at a time rather than try to force it into existence at once. The trees we build for ourselves may stand up, but they don’t grow, they don’t make good signs of the kingdom, and they certainly aren’t hospitable to those who perch in our lives.”
Moving Forward: “What seeds has God planted in you?”