Ezekiel speaks of a tiny young branch broken off a tree, planted anew by God and become a great towering cedar.  These words remind us how God uses what is little to accomplish great things in the world and in souls.  Our Lord gives the same teaching in the Gospel.  The kingdom of God is like a tiny mustard seed, barely larger than a grain of sand, which grows to become the greatest of all shrubs.  Our Lord chose only a few to begin the work of evangelization: to begin the spreading of the good news of salvation to the ends of the earth.  For the most part they were humble fishermen, uneducated, with obvious weaknesses and character flaws, with almost no material resources at their command.  And yet they had the truth; they had grace; they had authority and the power given to them by the Son of God himself.  Looking at things from a purely human perspective, it would be impossible to explain how these men could have spread the teachings of Christ to the whole known world in such a short time, in the face of so many obstacles and with so much opposition to overcome.  But they had the truth on their side and they trusted that the Lord could turn their meager efforts into truly great results.  This parable, the parable of the mustard seed was meant to encourage them, to urge them to have faith and to be confident that their preaching of the Gospel would be fruitful despite everything in their way. 

This parable is meant to encourage us as well.  God gives us all the mission to spread his love and his message of salvation in the world.  We’re called to overcome our sins and be shining examples of holiness to all those around us, to lead others along with us to the true joy and peace of the Christian life.  But, just speaking for myself, if I’m going to be honest, I’m not up to the challenge.  I’m a weak and sinful man: I commit the same sins over and over.  I’m inconsistent and distracted in my prayers.  I’m not particularly patient or kind or generous.  I have very little to offer God for the building up of his kingdom.  But I’m given the encouragement today, that God can turn the smallest bit of love that I’m able to muster up, into a great harvest of spiritual fruit.  This is what he promises me.  This is what he promises you.  God counts on us to transform our little corner of the world that he has entrusted to us: our family, our workplace, our circle of friends, our parish.  Although what we can do may seem small and insignificant, like the grain of mustard seed, we should never neglect to do whatever we can, even if it seems like just a little bit, because God counts on that contribution of ours.  If we can do nothing else, he wants us to show up.  He wants us not to give up.  He wants us to continue to try to pray and offer sacrifices, and he will ensure that there is growth and fruit.  That “little mustard seed” might be to encourage someone to return to the practice of the Faith, being attentive and kind to someone at work, giving a helping hand, praying for a sick friend, or asking someone to pray for us: or, just always living a joyful, honest, authentic life.  God wants to turn these apparently tiny things into opportunities for grace and even salvation.  If we honestly embrace our own littleness, our own insufficiency, our own weakness; if we rely on the power of grace, we will always be strong and faithful in whatever the Lord asks us to do, we will always be able to trust that, through the grace of God, the little mustard seed that we offer will be enough.  May the graces of this Holy Mass provide growth and perseverance to us in our spiritual lives, and may the Lord find us waiting for him with pure and simple hearts when he comes again.