July 17, 2011: 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

God’s kingdom is abundant with goodness.

Jesus told this parable,
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field.
It is the smallest of all the seeds but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches. (Matthew 13:31-32)

Jesus used parables to speak about the kingdom of heaven. Parables were stories that spoke of things familiar to the people. Jesus compared these familiar things to what they did not know or understand. They knew all about mustard seeds. They knew nothing about the kingdom of heaven.
By comparing the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed, Jesus helped them understand that the kingdom of heaven is BIG beyond description and full of life.
It provides for the life for all beings and things, including birds.
God’s kingdom is abundant with goodness.

Action:

When you wake up each morning, thank God for everything you have.