"Spread the Mustard"
7th Sunday after Pentecost
July 27, 2014
This Sunday we'll take a look at Jesus' Parable Of the Mustard Seed in the Gospel of Matthew. (You can read it by clicking here.) Jesus tells his disciples that the kingdom of heaven is like a tiny little mustard seed, which becomes a tree so large and full that it attracts nesting birds. That doesn't seem like a surprising metaphor - unless you know something about mustard plants!
Listening to this parable, Jesus' first-century, agrarian audience would have heard something quite unexpected about the nature of God's kingdom. They knew all too well that mustard is a spindly little shrub that's notoriously fast-growing and prolific. Once it establishes itself it spreads like an invasive, tenacious, unstoppable weed, taking over the entire crop field. Perhaps this story is a promise (or a warning!) that once the kingdom of God takes root, it will grow out of control.
Join us on Sunday as we explore that possibility.
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