The seed has grown, and become like so that the birds shelter in its branches.” And Jesus
said again, “What is the kingdom of God like? Imagine a woman who has taken yeast,
and hidden it in three measures of flour, until it is all leavened.”

Reflect

“Doing small good things.” A small good thing may result to great things. Today’s
Gospel narrates two parables: the parable of the mustard seed (cf. vv. 18-19) and the
parable of the yeast (cf. vv. 20-21). These parables have a parallel account in Matthew
13:31- 33. The account found in the Gospel of Mark tells only of the parable of the
mustard seed (cf. Mk. 4:30-32). In the accounts of Mark and Matthew, the parable
of the mustard seed is found within their respective chapters that also narrate the
parable of the sower. In the Gospel for today, these two parables are framed by the
healing story about the crippled woman and Jesus’ teaching about the narrow door.
We may further reflect that these two parables describe the small beginning
of the kingdom of God which would eventually result to unimaginable greatness. In
today’s Gospel, Jesus asked, twice in a rhetorical manner, as to what he must
compare God’s kingdom. The two parables appear to answer such question,
describing the reality that anything which is good, no matter how small, will result to
a great ending. We are called to participate in the realization of God’s kingdom by
not getting tired of doing small good things every day.

 
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