Moments With The Gospel The Mustard Seed.

Moments With The Gospel.

Moments With The Gospel Icon.

Today is Friday of Third Week of Ordinary Time.  The Church offers us this Gospel. I was meditating on the Gospel of the parable about the Mustard seed this morning and the phrase "the mustard seed'  caught my attention.  I was curious to find out more about the mustard seed and what it might reveal. Let us explore further. 

The mustard seed, while famously small, possesses several qualities that make it a powerful image in Jesus’ parable:

1. Rapid Growth 

Once planted the mustard seed grows quickly and vigorously, becoming a large plant or even a tree-like shrub. This symbolizes how the Kingdom of God starts small but expands beyond expectation.

2. Resilience and Hardiness

Mustard plants can thrive in various conditions and are highly adaptable. They don’t require deep soil; they can grow even in rocky or dry soil, which makes them a symbol of faith that can take root and flourish even in difficult circumstances.

3. Expansiveness and Influence 
A mustard seed doesn’t just grow—it spreads. It can take over an area, much like faith spreads from a single person to influence many.
So while mustard seeds don’t require deep soil, they do need space to grow, much like faith—small at first but expansive when nurtured. As I meditated on these features of the mustard seed I reflected on my how my faith like the mustard seed, takes root, spreads and becomes a refuge for others.
How does these added qualities of the Mustard seed expand me and help us grow in our relationship with God and with one another?

4. Provides Shelter and Nourishment

When fully grown, the mustard plant becomes large enough for birds to nest in its branches (Mark 4:32). This reflects how the Kingdom of God provides refuge, protection, and sustenance.

5. Requires Surrender to Growth

The seed must be buried in the earth and die to itself to sprout and grow. This echoes the call to surrender in faith, trusting in God’s transformative power.

6. Not a Majestic Tree, but a Humble Plant

Mustard plants are not like the mighty cedars of Lebanon; they are simple, everyday plants. This reminds us that God’s Kingdom grows in ways that defy human expectations, often through humility and simplicity.