Birds Of The Sky

Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.” Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened.” (Luke 13:18-21)

From a little seed, astonishing thinks grow.  What might start off as small and insignificant can end as majestic and awe-inspiring. The same applies to people starting as microscopic fertilized egg cells (zygotes) and ending as full-grown adults containing miles of blood vessels. In fact, for an adult, laying out all blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries) in a line would result in a distance of 60,000 miles!  By comparison, the circumference of the Earth is about 25,000 miles. That means a person's blood vessels could wrap around the planet approximately 2.5 times!  We still cannot wrap our minds around that calculation!

“The birds of the sky dwelt in its branches” is another way of saying all are welcome in the Kingdom of God.  Race, belief, origin, politics, and intellect have no influence meaning it’s a real open-door policy.  God invites all to the banquet.  The question is whether we will accept the invitation.  Many RSVPs go unanswered.  

Mustard seeds grow into large trees with many branches – sort of like how humans evolved and spread throughout the globe.  It is quite a family tree.  There is great diversity – an important  strength of the human race and certainly the American people.

Unfortunately, there are many in the United States, including government leaders, who act like starlings driving all other birds out of their tree. It is their territory, so they say: “Scram!”  Quite ungodly.  So is partisanship regardless of political party.  

Therein lies our problem with so many people wanting unleavened bread.  Keep the “bread” small so there is no room for anyone else except those who belong to the tribe.  This is somewhat similar to cutting off tree branches to remove perching spots for unwanted birds.  

We all subscribe and belong to the Kingdom of God.  We are Catholic and part of the Body and Blood of Christ.  We are to be full-grown mustard trees.  We are to be leavened bread.  Our personal and political decisions should reflect this reality and necessity.  It must reflect love and compassion as well as the light of Lady Liberty.

Deacon David Pierce