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Gospel: Luke 13:18-21
Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like?
To what can I compare it?
It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.
When it was fully grown, it became a large bush
and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”
Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?
It is like yeast that a woman took
and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Some years ago, a story went viral about an 89-year-old man named Fidenzio Sanchez. For more than 20 years, he pushed his popsicle cart through the streets of Chicago, daring to make ends meet.
Little did people know just how essential that cart was to his survival. Just a few months prior, Fidenzio’s only daughter – the breadwinner of the family – died tragically, leaving him and his frail wife with bills to pay.
One day, a neighbor noticed Fidenzio hunched over his cart – his dark, leathery hands ringing a silver bell to attract customers. Overcome with emotion, the neighbor snapped a picture, then posted it on GoFundMe, hoping to raise funds in support of this poor elderly man.
In less than 24-hours, people around the United States donated over $100,000. Within weeks, over $300,000 was raised, spread across 50 different countries.
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A single picture – a “mustard seed” – forever changed Fidenzio’s life.
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In a similar way, Jesus likens the kingdom of God to a mustard seed or a pinch of yeast. What started with one follower, turned into twelve, then thousands.
Today more than 1.2 billion people identify as Catholic, a growth of more than 1 million percent since the call of the Apostles!
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Mysteriously, this is how God works in our world, starting with something small – one photo, one person, one call.
Suddenly, the world is changed.
Never underestimate the power of a mustard seed.
Of you.
Of me.
Of us.
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Image credits: (1) Pinterest (2) Fidenzio Sanchez, Facebook (3) Community Renewal Society