Small but big

“What is the kingdom of God like?” (Luke 13.18). This rhetorical question is asked by Jesus in the text from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. The answer provided by Jesus in the Gospel from Luke uses two parables to give us an image of the way the Kingdom, or the reign of God in our time and society, works. Andy Alexander, S.J. of Creighton University reminds us of the mystery of the vegetable garden and the wonder of making bread. Our modern lives may not include real memories of family who lived in the faith of God to bless and provide growth to these simple but essential actions of human survival. Blessing and prayer and signing our efforts are practices which remind us the importance of continuous steps toward living in the Spirit which are transformed as growth for those we see around us, and in hope and faith, the many for whom we cultivate Life that we do not see. The Love uses our faithfulness to provide sustenance, shelter and respite for others. Friar JudeWinkler uses the phrase “the already but not yet” as he reflects on the message of Paul to the Romans comparing the suffering of the present time with our hope of the glory of God to reign in society and through our personal resurrection. The phrase used by Friar Jude is linked to the theology of “The Eternal Now” ofPaul Tillich. Our hopes for ourselves, our family and friends and even the change of social structures, mentioned by Andy Alexander, will find their fulfillment in the future. Christian hope is based in the faith of the vegetable gardener planting the mustard seed and the bread maker that the dough will raise in accord with the blessing which we extend through our work in small steps.