"From the Pulpit" - reflections on the weekly texts from Pastor Greg at Living Lord Lutheran Church, Vero Beach, FL
Mark 4:26-34
26 [Jesus] said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground,27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.”
30 He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”
33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34 he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.
from our gospel for Sunday, June 16th
Of Elon Musk and Mustard Seeds
So what do inventor/entrepreneur Elon Musk, and mustard seeds have in common? Hmmm...good question, you say. Here's my take on it.
Both evoke greatness in their own way. Say what you want about Elon Musk, but you have to admit that he's changed the world as we know it. He's transformed the way many of us get around with the success of the Tesla motorcar. He's exploring outer space with SpaceX, making space within reach of us "normal" folks soon, perhaps. And Twitter/X, well, the jury's still out on that one.
But with his success in at least two areas above, he's clearly a force in our world, for better or for worse. Like Christopher Columbus, or Thomas Edison, he's changed the face of our world. He's rich beyond comprehension, he's famous (some may say infamous), he's got power, and celebrity, and all of that. All of these things, most of the world, would say, make him great.
But there's another kind of greatness that's also otherworldly. And that is the greatness of God. Greatness found in small things. Ordinary things. Things, and people where you'd least expect to find greatness as the world defines it. And one of those things that Jesus references in our gospel for this Sunday is the little mustard seed. Say what, Pastor Greg? Greatness in a mustard seed? I'll bet most of us have never even seen, or held, a mustard seed. And, no, grabbing a bottle of Heinz yellow mustard and dousing your hotdog with it at the ballpark doesn't count as having an encounter with a mustard seed.
Jesus references the ordinary mustard seed in this parable (above) in our gospel. He says that the common, ordinary mustard seed, when planted and watered and nurtured, becomes this mighty shrub - home for birds and other animals, providing shade for man and beast. This is greatness in the kingdom of God. And, it provides seeds again for that mustard you're enjoying on that hotdog at the ball game today.
In our first reading for Sunday, from Ezekiel, we hear God speaking to the prophet Ezekiel, telling him that he (God) will take a tender sprig from the top of a cedar tree, plant it on a high and lofty mountain, where it will grow big and "winged creatures of every kind" will dwell in its shade. And the trees of the field, says God, will know that I am God", God says. This is also the greatness of God.
David, young David, the shepherd, David, was chosen by God to rule over Israel - chosen over King Saul. This is the same David, the last in his family of brothers. David, the one his other brothers tricked and deceived. This David becomes the leader of Israel - one you'd least expect to do so. This is the greatness of God.
And just think about it - Jesus, the Son of God, the one would would topple the Caesars of the world in terms of power and might, was born into poverty. Born into anonymity as the world knew it then. And yet, in his humility and "smallness", Jesus is the light of the world. And the world didn't know him, because he wasn't great like the world measured it then and now. This is the greatness of God.
When I think of this parable for Sunday, and the ways we measure or define greatness, I can't help but think of what St. Paul says about wisdom in 1 Corinthians, when he says, "Do not deceive yourselves, if you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you can become wise. For the wisdom of the world is foolishness with God." I Corinthians 3:18. In other words, the ways we "wise" 21st century folks measure things like greatness don't hold up when compared to the wisdom of God. It's futile to try.
My message for Sunday will ponder this some more. Greatness in the world as we know it can't hold a candle to the greatness of God as God measures it. And in much the same way that God uses twigs of cedar trees to grow big and provide shelter for birds of all kinds, and in much the same way that the mustard seed sprouts and grows into the largest of bushes...in much the same way that God gives us Jesus, who grows into the Savior of the World, so, too, does God plant the greatness of God in YOU! And grows and nourishes this "seed" in you to make you great. Great in the kingdom of God.
You are a creation of God, just like these other growing things I mentioned above. You grow into mature humans who feed the world. People who clothe those who need clothing. People who work for justice and peace in all the earth. This is the greatness of God, and you are living proof of it in the world. Amen? Amen.
Happy Father's Day to all dads, and all who have served in this role in the world! You help make the world a more gentle place. Thank you, dads!
"Lord Be Glorified" song
Fathers' Day Message
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