June 28, 2009
God's mustard seeds
Without a kite and a ten-year-old boy, Homan Walsh, the Niagara Falls Bridge would not have been built in 1847. The problem was how to get the first line across the steep cliffs, rapids and swirling winds. First Homan crossed the river on a ferry lower on the river since the prevailing winds came from the Canadian side. He hiked back to the cliff chosen by the engineer and launched his kite and released more and more line as the kite sailed to the American shore. Then he waited for the winds to subside after sunset. It was a long wait, but finally the line became slack, and he reeled it in. Unfortunately, the line had fallen into the gorge where the sharp ice had shredded it.
Due to bad weather Homan stayed with a family on the Canadian side for eight days before a second, successful, attempt. After securing the initial kite string, progressively heavier and heavier line was fed across until a steel cable that connected across the gorge, and the bridge construction could begin. Homan Walsh was rewarded with a ten-dollar cash prize.
We know stories of how important people and big business are able to accomplish great things. But it also happens that small and insignificant people are able to do great things. It is just this that the Bible often focuses on especially when Jesus says, "The greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven is the one who humbles himself and becomes like this child" (Matthew 18:4) or "Many who are now first will be last, and many who are now last will be first" (Mark 10:31). Maybe if Jesus were here he would say, "Small boys like Homan Walsh are able to accomplish great things – that’s how it is in the Kingdom of Heaven."
The Old Testament reading has a similar theme. It would be surprising but God would accomplish the salvation of the world and this tiny insignificant nation of Israel would play a role in his plan. The picture is of a small shoot of a tree being transplanted onto a mountain top. You wouldn’t expect it to survive or amount to anything, but look, God says, “Look what I will do with it.” “Birds of every kind …will find shelter in the shade of its branches” (Ezekiel 17:23).
What shall we say the Kingdom of God is like?" Jesus asked one day. "The Kingdom of God is like, well, it's like a tiny mustard seed". That's what we heard in today's gospel. The Kingdom of God is like that tiny, insignificant mustard seed, the smallest in the world. But that tiny seed will germinate, grow and grow until it becomes a large bush.
A bush? The Kingdom of God is a mustard bush?
"Yes," continued Jesus, "a plant so impressive that small birds can perch in its branches and make nests in its shade."
Can you see what has happened here again? From something very small has grown a large bush. Evidently God looks at things differently from the way we look at things. From what we have heard today that comes as no great surprise. He rescues the least among the nations to make them a great nation. He encourages us to live by faith and not by sight. The important things of this life are not what we see, but the faith we have in our hearts that clings to our hope of heaven. And all of this of course points to the greatest example of all - Jesus and his cross. A man who appeared to be the least among all other men, despised, rejected, treated as a common criminal is the greatest of all. He is the Lord of all - the conqueror over sin, death and Satan - our Lord and Savior. God chooses what is apparently weak to accomplish his purposes. Doesn't Paul say: God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong (1 Cor 1:27)?
One of the things that characterized Jesus was his ability to see beyond the outside appearance and to see the possibilities and potential of an individual. He viewed others, not so much as what they were, but what they could become.
· An ordinary fishermen (Peter) became the rock on which the church is built.
· A dishonest tax collector (Matthew) becomes a trusted friend and disciple.
· An angry Pharisee (Paul) who is a persecutor of the church becomes the apostle to the gentiles.
And again as we have seen before, it is not that these men were great in themselves, it is God who uses those small, weak, non-existent beginnings and efforts and he does great things.
And that is what Jesus is saying in his parable. He is inviting us to look at the kingdom of God with new eyes. The outside appearance may seem insignificant and so small you can hardly see it but the results are great. If you believe that this is how God does things then you will not be too quick to dismiss the small and insignificant. You will not give up on yourself, on others, on the church, or even the world just because all you see are signs of weakness and insignificance. Rather you will believe that with God all things are possible, even if all that you see is a tiny mustard seed, something small and insignificant.
To believe this is to see yourself in a new light. Your faith may be as small as a mustard seed, but if you take it seriously and use it mountains can be moved. You can do great things for God if you are willing to offer your love, generosity, kindness and abilities as small and insignificant as you may think they are.
The story is told that the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, began an orphanage with such a vision. She told her superiors, "I have three pennies and a dream to build an orphanage."
"Mother Teresa," her superiors chided gently, "You cannot build an orphanage with three pennies ... with three pennies you can’t do anything."
"I know," she said, smiling, "but with God and three pennies I can do anything."
The parable of the mustard seed reminds us that God’s beginnings may be small, but his results great.
That leads me to ask.
Why were you chosen by God to be a disciple of Jesus?
Why are you here?
Were you chosen to be a disciple of Christ because of your greatness or importance or because you are able to impress people with your skill and influence?
Think about your life, the people you come into contact with each day, the things you do, the places you go. God has baptized you with his powerful Word, washed you clean with his refreshing forgiveness, and given you his Holy Spirit. He has chosen you to be his representative in those places, among those people, so that they might see something of God in you.
There are pictures that Jesus uses to highlight how the least can bring about a great result. Think of Jesus words you are the salt of the earth. Just a small amount of salt gives flavor to a meal. Or those words of our Lord: You are the light of the world. Consider how small a car headlight is, but how great is the cone of light that cuts through the blackest night. Likewise, it is often the small things done by people that can have the greatest effect in the lives of people.
You are Christ’s representative in the world. He lives in you and you are sharing his Word and your faith through your words and actions. Where you are, he also is. What a joy! What a privilege for you! What a responsibility!
Maybe you’ve experienced this. Haven't you ever been surprised by the overwhelming thanks of a person who is ever so grateful for the support and help that you gave. For a minute you have to stop and think, what was it that you did that was so valuable. But it was that small thing you did that has been transformed into something great and wonderful for the recipient. You could put it this way: You have sown the mustard seed that God gave you to sow and look what he has done with it, how he made it grow and flourish!
But unfortunately too often we want things to work according to our plans and if we don't see immediate results we give up in despair. We lose the enthusiasm to be mustard seeds, and wonder if there is any purpose in venturing out because nothing seems to be happening. We lose our enthusiasm when we don’t see our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ growing in love and godly living at the rate we would like them to.
I think you would have to agree that our text today tells us quite clearly that the kingdom of God is built God's way according to God's plan and in God's time.
We need to confess our lack of confidence when it comes to planting mustard seed.
We confess that we forget that from the least God can do great things in his kingdom.
We confess that too often we have thought "What's the use!" and not done anything, not even the least.
You might say that your life is so ordinary and so is your commitment to following Jesus.
You say you don’t even feel close to God.
You say too often you don’t act like someone whom God has called.
While each of us would like to think that Jesus has especially chosen us because of something good in our lives, the truth of the matter is that God does not call you or me because of our feelings, our actions or our goodness.
You belong to Christ, he has saved you, he is your king and Lord, and he has chosen you as his disciple to be his representative at home, at work, in the community, in this church, wherever.
Today, visiting with fellow church members, having a coffee together, eating lunch, visiting by the tree in the church yard as you watch your children play, saying goodbye in the parking lot, and tomorrow, at work, in the office, over the kitchen sink, in the playground, that's you – remember this: God's has chosen you. Remember that you may be only small and seemingly insignificant, but in God's hands you become a great blessing.
Let’s pray about this: Lord, we can hardly believe it. You have chosen us. You make the seed of faith grow in our hearts. We thank and praise you for this most awesome gift of faith. Forgive us for the times we distrust your growing activity in the hearts of others. Use us, Lord, as branches of shade, places of peace and refuge where your gospel is the cool, refreshing Word that comes from our mouths and lives in our hearts. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds through faith in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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