Small Steps Build The Kingdom

People often think that to be an effective evangelist, they have to take grand action. In reality, small steps build the kingdom. The most effective way to spread the Gospel is to live a Gospel life. Live a life of joyful service to your fellow man. Then, when asked about the source of your joy, share with them the Good News that is Christ.

Gospel - Matthew 13:31-35

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.

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.”

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.”

All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables.

He spoke to them only in parables,

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.

Scriptural Analysis

The next parable Jesus presents is one familiar to most: the parable of the mustard seed. This parable builds on the previous parable’s theme, showing that despite the opposition of the enemy, the harvest of the kingdom will yield great results. Comparing the kingdom to a mustard seed illustrates this in a stark way. At first, the kingdom is tiny, just a mustard seed, the smallest of all the seeds. However, this tiny seed ultimately produces a gigantic bush. It is described as being so big that the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches. This recalls an Old Testament description of the kingdom, which gathers many nations just as a large tree gathers many birds. (Ezekiel 31) Ezekiel foretold that Israel would gather nations like a mighty cedar sheltering birds. Jesus uses this parable to show how his kingdom movement, despite its small beginnings, will fulfill Israel’s mission to the nations as Ezekiel predicted.

The third parable presented in Chapter 13 builds upon this theme of unimpressive begging. Jesus compares the kingdom to yeast, which is mixed in a batch of dough. A small amount of yeast, when mixed into the dough, will cause the dough to rise and expand. This foretells the method by which the kingdom will have a profound impact despite its unremarkable beginning. As a side note, three measures of flour is about sixty pounds of flour: enough to feed 100 people, a grand banquet often used to picture the kingdom.

Matthew now shows how Jesus, using parables, is yet another instance of him fulfilling the Old Testament. Matthew cites the opening of Psalm 78, "I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old.” Matthew is attempting to demonstrate how Jesus’ use of parables aligns with God’s plan. Psalm 78 sums up Old Testament salvation, so Matthew is also likely showing that Jesus is the one who brings this plan to fulfillment.

Daily Application

People often think that it either takes excellent knowledge or great action to evangelize. I either have to be an expert in the faith, a modern-day Saint Thomas Aquinas, or I have to be able to take bold action or go on a mission like a Saint Isaac Jogues. While these two great saints did extraordinary things, most of us are not being called to that kind of life. However, that does not mean that our life can’t be impactful: that we can’t help build the kingdom of God.

Most of the work of building the kingdom is done by men and women living their lives. If you want to have an extraordinary impact, then live an ordinary life but do so in the service of the Lord. Discern the vocation the Lord is calling you to: priest, religious life, or marriage. Then live that vocation out in service to those the Lord has placed under your care and in your life. Perform that service with great joy and humility.

When you do this, you will stand out because your life is so contrary to what the world tries to convince us our life should be like. The joy and peace that you exude will attract others. They will ask for your secret, and when they do, you can point them to Him who is peace and joy. You can point them to the Lord. Small steps build the kingdom. Go and take the life the Lord has given you, your mustard seed, and in humility and service, allow it to become the large plant that draws others to Christ.