A reading from the gospel of Matthew 13:31-35
31 Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds. “The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field.
32 It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.”
33 He spoke to them another parable. “The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.”
34 All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables,
35 to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world.
Reflection: From small to large
Good News: The Kingdom of God will definitely grow!
Do you feel too small to make an impact? You may be the seed that can grow and become the largest tree!
Just like the Kingdom of God. There is no stopping its growth and fulfillment. No matter what the enemy will do, the Kingdom is here to stay and the salvation of this world will soon be totally accomplished. The world maybe in a horrible state right now but in God we trust. The seed of faith, hope and love had been sown and we are seeing its growth, albeit rather slowly.
Just like the mustard seed, it will take time, more time maybe, for the Kingdom of God to be fully realized. That is because of our individual response. If our individual thoughts, words and actions reflect our original image before the fall, we will be living in paradise on earth. If each one of us starts to love and care for each other now, then the Kingdom of God is already realized in our midst. Indeed, the full realization of the Kingdom of God is dependent in part on our individual decision.
Yet we are not impatient. Even as we daily pray “Thy Kingdom Come; Thy Will be done”, we let the power of God to work in us. We implore Him to be in control of our behavior because the power of the enemy is also at work in us. Even as we await the fulfillment of the Kingdom, we try hard to live it here and now.
Let us therefore focus on the here and now. So what can we do right at the moment? We can decide to be a tree for others to come and find shade and even make nest. We can be a bird that sings a song of praise and thanksgiving. We can be the yeast to catalyze a movement to feed the hungry. We can be the prophet to announce the Good News of love and hope. While sitting down in the beach, why not make a wish for the world to be at peace? Indeed, there are lots of things that we can do in the here and now to realize the Kingdom of God in our midst.
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Small but Growing
We may think that we are small, powerless, and insignificant. Yet being small means we have room to grow and being powerless means we need to depend on the Almighty. Being insignificant means we have the freedom of movement without security guards.
What is important is that we have the desire to grow in faith, hope and love. To grow means we start small. Even in the business world, starting as a small entity is a good advice. In that way, we learn first the nitty-gritty of every situation and then little by little we move in an upward trajectory.
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That small seed is at first insignificant. When planted however, it grows and as Jesus said, it becomes a large and useful tree. Yet the process of growth for the seed is not an easy endeavor. It is first buried in the ground where it is dark and cold. It dies to itself literally! Yet the hand of God is there to help it germinate. As soon as it arise from the ground, it is exposed to the elements – rain, strong winds, the hot sunshine and yes, the threat of careless human beings that can step on it. Yet it continues to grow.
Just like the growth of the mustard seed, our journey towards the Kingdom may be difficult and long. Along the way, we are exposed to the elements of temptations, persecutions and other forms of suffering. Yet there is no other journey worth taking. We stumble often but the grace of God is sufficient for us to rise up again. We learn and with a smile, we move on knowing that we don’t travel alone.
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In this Gospel reading, Jesus shares two brief yet powerful parables, the mustard seed and the yeast, to describe the nature of God’s kingdom. He compares the kingdom to a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds, which grows into a large tree where birds find shelter. He then likens it to yeast that a woman mixes into a large amount of flour until it works through the whole dough. These images of smallness growing into greatness are central to understanding how God’s kingdom works in our lives and in the world. Jesus often used simple, familiar things to reveal deep spiritual truths, and these parables remind us that God’s work may begin in ways that seem insignificant, yet they hold the power to transform everything.
The mustard seed teaches us that God delights in small beginnings. Many times, we look for instant success, visible results, or grand gestures to prove something is meaningful. But the way of the kingdom is different. God’s greatest works often start in quiet, hidden ways like a seed buried in soil. Faith planted in the heart, a kind word offered in love, a prayer whispered in secret — all seem small but are full of divine potential. The same applies to our own lives. We may feel small or unnoticed, but God can use our simple obedience to accomplish great things in His time. Just as the mustard seed becomes a tree offering shade and shelter, our acts of faith can grow into blessings for others.
The yeast, on the other hand, symbolizes the quiet yet powerful influence of God’s kingdom. Unlike the seed, which grows visibly, yeast works invisibly. It is mixed in and hidden in the dough, yet its effect is undeniable; it causes the entire dough to rise. This is how God often moves: not in noise or spectacle, but through persistent, transformative presence. A life lived in truth and love can slowly influence a family, a workplace, a school, or a community. It reminds us not to underestimate the power of quiet faithfulness. One person walking in the Spirit can be the yeast that lifts the whole environment toward hope and healing.
Both parables speak not only of God’s work in the world but also His work within us. His kingdom starts in our hearts, something as small faith, as a longing for something more, as a gentle stirring toward change. When we welcome God’s word, even in a small way, He nurtures it. Over time, that seed grows into maturity, and that yeast rises into action. These parables call us to be patient, hopeful, and trusting. Transformation takes time, but God is faithful. Even when we do not see immediate results, we can be assured that the kingdom is advancing within us and around us.
So what should we do in light of this? First, never despise small beginnings. If God has planted something in your life such as a calling, a desire, a gift, nurture it with care. Second, be faithful in little things. A kind word, a humble act, or a short prayer may be the start of something great. Finally, be the yeast in your environment. Live with integrity, speak with love, serve with joy, and let God use your quiet witness to lift others up. You may not always see the results, but trust that God’s kingdom is growing.
In a world obsessed with instant results and outward success, Jesus calls us to a deeper reality, that small things, when surrendered to God, become instruments of great impact. Like the mustard seed and the yeast, let us be willing to start small, act faithfully, and trust that God is building His kingdom through us in ways far beyond what we can imagine.
