The Kingdom of God

Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Luke 13:18-21

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.”

Opening Prayer: “Blessed are you, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.” Lord, reveal to me who I am in your Kingdom. Grant me the grace to desire your will for me. 

Encountering Christ:

1. The Kingdom/The King: Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it?” When we think of living under the authority of a king, we may imagine kingdoms where we are powerless and subjugated under a tyrannical sovereign. But Jesus is a King like no other. Jesus is “Eternal King, Most Merciful King, Loving King Who offers us Healing Grace, Eucharistic King, King foretold by the prophets, King of Heaven and earth, King and Ruler of All Nations, Delight of the Heavenly Court, Most Compassionate toward his subjects, King from Whom proceeds all authority, King Whose Kingdom is not of this world, King Whose Sacred Heart burns with Love for all mankind, King Who is the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega, King Who has given us Mary, the Queen, to be our dear Mother, King truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament…” (From the Litany to Christ the King).

2. The Mustard Seed: How can the Lord’s Kingdom be like a mustard seed? In the body of every human, God plants a soul—a tiny mustard seed that, once planted, never dies. In God’s Kingdom, the seed (our soul) is free to choose how it will grow. The Lord wants to send us the Holy Spirit to water our souls with grace. If we reject this grace, we wither, and our God-given mission dies with us. If we accept the grace of the Spirit, we thrive and can support others “dwelling in our branches” as we journey together through life.

3. Yeast: When kneaded into flour and water, yeast ferments to make dough rise. In this parable, we are the yeast created by God, mixed into the world by his loving hands and invited to reproduce and expand his Kingdom. By the power of the sacraments, our personal prayer, and our faithful perseverance, the light of Christ bubbles up in us, impacting everyone around us for the good. If each of us does our part, the Kingdom spreads far and wide. 

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, the idea of Kingdom, mustard seed, and yeast are wonder-filled ways you teach us about life in you. We are your creation so you know best how to help us understand your mysterious ways. Bless me, as I pray, with an even deeper understanding of your love for me and for all your creatures.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will pray the Our Father (Lord’s Prayer), slowly reflecting on how the Kingdom of God reigns in my life. 

For Further Reflection: “Thy Kingdom Come”: Bishop Barron on the Lord’s Prayer.

Nan Balfour is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She volunteers as a writer and speaker for Pilgrim Center of Hope, a Catholic evangelization ministry that answers Christ’s call by guiding people to encounter him so as to live in hope as pilgrims in daily life.