“It is like a mustard seed…” --Mark 4:31
One of my favorite Dr. Seuss books is Horton Hears a Who. Do you know the story? Horton, an elephant with big elephant ears, can hear voices -- a whole civilization -- coming from a dust speck on a small flower. No one else can hear it and they think he’s crazy. Horton convinces the Whovians on the dust speck to make noise so that they can be heard, but it doesn’t work. Finally, the smallest Who with the tiniest voice, climbs to the very top of the pile of shouting Who’s and this smallest of voices proves enough to break through and be heard.
The point is, of course, that even the smallest voice matters. In fact, it can make all the difference.
Jesus uses a tiny mustard seed to make a similar point about the Reign of God. He says this tiniest of seeds grows into a great bush capable of providing homes for the birds. At first glance, the Reign of God may not look like much and many may not even be able to perceive it but, watch out! Once it starts growing…!
I’ve spent the last couple of days examining our congregational statistical reports for the past year. It was a sobering exercise. The decline in our congregations in the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod continues, if a bit slowed. We are a synod of small churches. 53% of our congregations have less than one hundred members. Our small congregations struggle with the realities of their diminutive size every day. It can seem pretty bleak sometimes! But, most of the time, I see a different picture. I see a pile of mustard seeds with the potential to sprout. I see evidence of the Reign of God. I see the smallest of the Who’s adding their voices to the cacophony of the heavenly chorus of the faithful.
Around here, we like to say we are a “small scrappy synod.” Even our smallest churches are doing God’s Gospel Work. Not just caring for their small communities of faith gathered around Word and Sacrament -- which they do -- but they are also engaged in the communities that surround them (or in the nearby communities for those out in the countryside). They are mustard seeds sprouting. They might not look like much, and maybe, by the world’s standards, they aren’t. But in God’s eyes they are precious and full of possibilities for sharing God’s life and love with the world.
Jesus started his movement with a rag-tag band of guys and a handful of women. They didn’t look like much. But, empowered by his Spirit, they changed the world. Mustard seeds of the Reign of God. That same Spirit can use mustard seeds like us too – whether we are in a small church or a mega ministry -- to share God’s love and grace with those around us and with those far off. That same Spirit can cause us to sprout and grow into great bushes capable of doing stunning work, sometimes in tiny, almost imperceptible ways, all in Jesus’ name.
Sometimes it takes the smallest of voices to break through the din of the world! I hope and pray that you are adding yours to the sound. Who knows who might hear?
Peace,
Bishop Mike
PS: The photo is of a small container of mustard seeds I’ve carried around with me for decades. It reminds me of Jesus’ words on days I’m feeling kind of small and insignificant. Thanks for reading.
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