In the shade of a mustard tree

 

God wills that His Kingdom come.  We pray this in the Lord’s Prayer, taught to us by Jesus Himself (Matthew 6:9-13).  What does it mean when we pray for His Kingdom to come?  First, it means that God wants to come and dwell within us, establishing His Kingdom within our hearts and souls.  We must become living members of His Kingdom, and He must be our Ruler and Guide.

Second, we understand this to be the establishment of His laws and will in our world.  This means that the social, political and cultural order must be transformed by God’s grace so as to participate in and bear the fruit of His Kingdom.  We have work to do!

Third, it means that we anticipate the final and glorious coming of His Kingdom when Jesus returns in splendor and glory.  In the end, all things will be transformed, and God will bring forth His final judgment upon the world, making all things new (Revelation 21:1-8). 

Jesus told several parables that reveal to us how this will happen (Mark 4:26-34).  He revealed that God’s Kingdom will slowly, gently and miraculously take hold.  This will happen in our lives, it will happen in our world as we Christians commit ourselves to this work, and it will miraculously happen at the end of time when Jesus returns.

Parables are used to remind us about the “upside-down” kingdom.  We’re often tempted to fix Jesus’ words and give them a fine bow as if wrapping a gift.  A parable is supposed to teach us new never-ending insights.  Biblical scholars are largely in agreement that a mustard seed was not exactly the smallest seed, and eight feet was the most it could grow.  Yet, most commentaries will offer the idea that the smallest seed was the growth in the Christian community.  Its growth exceeded far beyond a pesty weed—as it was known in Palestine in Jesus’ time—into a large tree with room and shade for all peoples.  So, before we find ourselves tempted to install a hammock to sleep away our warm afternoons under this tree, we might reflect on the details of the parable.

I read somewhere that a mature tree can offer a day’s supply of oxygen for four adults.  It not only offers shade but oxygen—life-giving breath.  Imagine resting in a hammock under this large tree with shade for every bird.  What might we experience?  Loud noise, bird droppings, interruptions, surprises? Perhaps, it is not quite what we expected?  Maybe we’re being invited to take a deeper look!  We each find the kingdom at work in our own lives. 

My reflection today was upon the mysterious ways that God establishes His Kingdom.  He’s in charge of it first and foremost.  But we must do our part.  We must make our hearts and the world around us fertile ground.  We must plant the seed, water it as needed but then let God do His part.  God wants to bring forth His Kingdom in our life and in the world far more than any of us.  But if we do our part, we’ll be amazed as we watch God grow His glorious handiwork of grace.