Jesus told many parables that reveal various features of the kingdom of God. The parable in today’s gospel reveals two such features. The first is that the kingdom of God comes to fruition over time rather than all-at-once. Jesus symbolizes this point with the parable of scattered seed that sprouts and grows to maturity. No one sees or knows how, but of its own accord, the seed eventually yields its fruit. Jesus inaugurates the kingdom with his word. He plants the Word of God in our hearts, and his word bears fruit over time.
The second feature about the kingdom focuses on the expected members. Jesus illustrates this point with the smallest seed that becomes the largest plant. Jesus provides his word to everyone. Jesus the sower makes no distinction among those who are members of the kingdom. He wants everyone included in the harvest. We are all chosen by God to be members in his very large kingdom. God excludes no one.
The ancient Israelites were perhaps the first to perceive themselves as chosen by God to be members in his kingdom, but they were not the only ones chosen. Jesus makes this clear when he tells his disciples “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold, and these also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd” (Jn10:16).
This idea of inclusion is what motivates Peter to make a bold declaration in his letter to a group of early Christians, who were primarily Gentiles. In that letter, Peter declares to the Gentiles that “…you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1Pt 2:9). Peter makes this bold claim to show that we all belong to the kingdom of God. We are all chosen by God—Jew, Gentile, Muslim, Hindu, yes, even the atheist. All are chosen by God.
All of the parables about the kingdom of God—the mustard seed, the seed falling on different kinds of ground, the treasure hidden in the field, the leaven in the dough—all show yet another important point, namely, that we are in this together. Even when fully developed, one seed does not make for a harvest. It takes the whole field of grain. One morsel of yeast does not make for a loaf of bread. It takes a whole measure of yeast. Even the one who finds the hidden treasure in a field must collaborate with others—with the owner who sells the field and with the buyers of his own goods to raise the purchase price.
In other words, bringing about the kingdom of God takes the combined effort of all of us. No one does it alone. Jesus himself sets the example of collaborating with others when he calls Peter the rock upon which he will build his church, the collective body of Christ. This is therefore our calling. There are many gifts but one spirit to equip us for the work of building up the body of Christ (Eph 4:12). It follows that each of us pulling together will eventually bring about the kingdom of God.
Until then, the kingdom is still in the growing season. The time for harvest has not yet come. The kingdom of God planted by the Word of Jesus has not yet reached fruition. It is growing and developing. For this reason, the garden stands in need of constant care and cultivation for a bountiful crop. Without proper care, the newly planted garden will fail to flourish and will deteriorate.
The proper cultivation of the word planted by Jesus is grounded in faith expressed in good works. Those works are like the leavening agent that causes the dough to rise. We are the farmer who tends the seed growing in the field. Our call is to tend the kingdom of God by keeping his commandments to love one another as Jesus loved us. Indeed, we demonstrate our commitment in this regard with good works that stem from our faith and love.
This is the point that St. Paul makes in his letter to Titus. In that letter, Paul claims that good works are evidence of our faith in God (Ti 3:8). We receive different gifts from the Holy Spirit for service to others in building up the kingdom here on earth. There are many gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different forms of service, but the same Lord. There are different works to be done, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each of us the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit (1 Cor 12:4-7).
For us, the question is how to bring about Christ’s bounty—his peace, justice, love, reconciliation, and respect for the dignity of all, especially for those in our daily lives. Jesus does not provide specific instructions in this respect, but he guides us in many ways—with the parables, the beatitudes, his various sayings and teachings, and especially with and through those in our daily lives. He also sends the Holy Spirit as our helper and defender. Life as a disciple of Christ in many ways is no more complicated than this. We are called to a life of good works born of faith and love.
Our calling as a follower of Christ is a way of life, a different way of seeing things, a worldview that is possible through Christ, who strengthens us for the task at hand (Phil 4:13). As his followers, we become coworkers with Christ. We become the salt of the earth, light for the world, a branch of the true vine, a temple of the Holy Spirit, who in turn renews the face of the earth. This is the message of the parables on the kingdom of God. We are all chosen for a life of good works born of faith and love to bring about a new reality, a new world—the kingdom of God.
