Message from Katie Ryan
“Then Jesus told another story: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. That seed is the smallest of all seeds, but when it grows, it is one of the largest garden plants. It becomes big enough for the wild birds to come and build nests in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32
How can the kingdom of heaven start as something so small, so tiny, like a mustard seed? What even is the kingdom of heaven? These questions ran through my brain as I started to write the March Sunday School lessons for our children.
What does God’s kingdom look like? We see here that it starts small, like a mustard seed, “the smallest of all seeds. But when it grows, it is one of the largest garden plants.” How can God’s kingdom be small? Maybe because God created because of one small word: love. This small, four letter word grows into something huge, like the small seed grows into a tree that is big enough for the birds to come and build nests in.
We, like the birds, come into his kingdom for shelter, food, protection. A place to be together and build our homes. We come to the tree for fellowship, to love each other, to serve each other, and to bring others in with us. We come to God’s kingdom to shelter us from the storms. Trees need the wind and rain to help their roots grow deeper as they create a firm foundation. These challenges, they push us to grow deeper in our faith: to stay strong and never lose hope.
Matthew again brings up the mustard seed in chapter 17, saying “I tell you the truth, if your faith is as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there, and it will move. All things will be possible for you.” Our faith, as small as a mustard seed, can move mountains. If you feel small, lost, or lonely during this time, remember the small mustard seed. You are reading this because you matter, and you are a part of God’s family and our church family. Keep the faith. You will move mountains.