Today’s Gospel tells us of Jesus “sowing seeds”; being a gardener if you like.
In nearly all His parables He ‘Sows seeds’; seeds of wisdom and encouragement, seeds of knowledge and confidence.
All these seeds grow in the hearts and minds of those who listen. Among whom we, of course, belong.
They are seeds that when nurtured will flourish and be fruitful.
Typically, Jesus uses for His ‘seeds’ everyday examples, things His listeners would recognise and know:
The tiny seed which grows to become a strong bush.
The single cell of yeast helping ‘flat’ ingredients to become a wholesome loaf of bread.
He tells people who, in their everyday surroundings, spot real treasure. In the field and among the pearls.
Treasure which they recognise and value enough to give up all else to gain.
And to people who fish for a living; he spoke of a huge harvest, fish of every kind.
The seeds that Jesus is sowing here are seeds about the kingdom of heaven.
The Kingdom can be a challenging concept for many people, but Jesus’s words affirm how a smidgen of faith, a seed of love – our kingdom faith if nurtured, will grow into something great and good.
He shows that this kingdom of faith is of great worth – “beyond price” one might say.
Something greatly to be desired, beyond our known measure of wealth.
And the kingdom is all embracing; there is a place, a room, for all of us.
In recognising Jesus sowing seeds here, it is important to note that, whilst He may well be looking ahead to the end product, the unimaginable glory of heaven, He is in fact, in His parables of our Gospel today, focusing on the starting point.
The tiny seed which grows to become a vibrant plant, the miniscule yeast cell which acts to produce a delicious loaf.
Sometimes gardeners will start with a seed, and watch it become a beautiful flourishing plant. Sometimes they will take a well-developed strong root clump and divide it, each small part itself growing into a thriving plant.
Who first sowed a seed if faith in us?
Did our faith come through what our family and friends shared with us and rooted in us?
However we received it, and however small and frail in may sometimes seem, it has brought us into the kingdom.
If we take nothing else from todays Gospel reading, we must recognise that the small seed of faith in us, that small cell of faith helping us to grow, the single jewel, is our kingdom faith.
Aa kingdom faith. Its potential to grow and grow is unlimited. And grow it will, as we grow in Jesus Christ.
The small seed of faith working in us does indeed make us part of the kingdom.
We are part of God’s kingdom, each and every one of us who confesses Jesus as Lord, we are part of His kingdom.
Amen.