MUSTARD AND BREAD
The title of my homily for this 30th Tuesday in Ordinary Time is, “Mustard And Bread”.
Even if we’ve never made bread – even if we’ve never planted anything in a garden – we all know what bread and mustard look like. Hot dog! We do.
Jesus begins today’s gospel with a great question: “What is the kingdom of God like?” [Cf. Luke 13: 18-21]
A personal wondering and question: “At what age did Jesus dream up his idea of the kingdom?”
Was it at 7, 14, 21, 28?
What was he thinking about before he started his new life of preaching and healing around 30 years of age?
As he worked with wood in the carpenter shop – as he went with Joseph to seal a deal – or to do some home construction work – did he sit on a wagon or cart – letting Joseph drive – while he watched the birds of the sky with a smile in his eye – and then see them flock down – hundreds of them in perfect jet plane formation - onto mustard bushes in a garden? Or were the mustard plants he saw ones that Mary had planted with tiny mustard seeds in their own garden? Did he see Mary make bread or was it a baker in town, in Nazareth – and he sat there and watched the leaven do its surprise – its rise – leaven, flour, key ingredients of the dough ready for the oven - to become great tasty loaves of bread?
When did Jesus outline in his mind the key ingredients of the kingdom?
Every time he broke bread with Mary and Joseph – sitting there on steady chairs at a sturdy table that he and Joseph made – with bread and wine on that table – along with some mustard to add spice to a meal – did he say, “Isn’t this wonderful? Isn’t this everyone’s dream – a family sitting together in joy and peace enjoying the spice of life – enjoying a slice of life – a family meal? Every father a king. Every mother a queen. Every child a prince or princess."
Did he bake or break words into prayer in the depths of his heart thanking God, our Father, for the gift of life – family – daily bread – all of us forgiving each other for trespasses – dreaming that everyone have their daily bread? Is that when he first said, “Thy Kingdom Come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven?”
When did he form and formulate his parables and stories and sayings about this great dream of the kingdom of God.
If we reflect upon the gospels and let each story – each saying – each image – be a seed planted in the soil of our soul – all will grow – and the kingdom of God will be like a bush or small tree growing inside us. Or we will be like bread – leavened bread - being baked in the oven of our heart - ready for Eucharist, for Communion, with each other.
The gospels are filled with rich, simple yet subtle images.
Jesus was a poet - who grew in wisdom, age and grace. Jesus was always the one with a child’s eye – with a child’s imagination - playing and praying on the surface of the earth. [Cf. Proverbs 8:22-31]
Jesus the poet and the preacher invites all to enter into his imaginary kingdom – each day – and to see it become real, realized. It’s his dream. It’s his hope for all of us – to live both here and hereafter – in his kingdom – a kingdom of justice and peace – loving kindness – forgiveness – compassion – gracefulness. He spent time in communion with his Father - and discovered this was the Father's will - on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
