Tuesday 29 October 2024

Today is Tuesday the 29th of October in the 30th week of Ordinary Time. Jon Guerra and Sandra McCracken with the Porter’s Gate sing, ‘The Kingdom of Jesus’. To what shall we compare the kingdom of Jesus if not a seed? It’s small, it’s sown, it’s tended and grown And it’s stirred in you and me Its branches never break and its fruit never withers His kingdom is not of this world Or of any kingdom whose ruler’s face is on a penny He comes to make all things right To put a new wine in us He’s chosen the small things to outlast the great The meek and the merciful to shine through the hate Though it seems some days that hell and its gates are prevailing Oh, say, can you see The kingdom within us Is the kingdom of Jesus To what shall we compare the spirit of the hour if not a sword It frees us, unites us, enslaves and divides us in violence Help us, Lord His kingdom is not of this world Or of any kingdom whose ruler’s face is on a penny He comes to make all things right To put a new wine in us He’s chosen the small things to outlast the great The meek and the merciful to shine through the hate Though it seems some days that hell and its gates are prevailing Oh, say, can’t you see We have one allegiance It's to the kingdom of Jesus He who is in us is greater Than he who is in the world He who is in us is greater And He’s overcome the world Oh, His kingdom is not one of slander or rage But one that is ruled by the lamb who was slain And is worthy of wisdom and honour and glory and strength No pain, no division, no public disgrace Will compare with seeing the smile on his face As he welcomes us home as children with places at the table Neither death nor threat nor power can ever separate us From the love of God forever, in Christ Jesus Everything shall pass away, but not the Word that’s within us, no It’s the kingdom of Jesus, the kingdom of Jesus Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 13:18-21 [Jesus] said therefore, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.’ And again he said, ‘To what should I compare the kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.’ In today’s reading, Jesus gives us two pictures of what the kingdom of God is like. As you consider the tiny mustard seed with all its potential, you are invited to reflect on our own place within the kingdom. Can you remember your first seed of understanding of faith, and your response to God? Now imagine that you watch how the small seed of faith grows. Can you see this as the kingdom of God growing within you? Reflect on any seeds of faith you might have sown, perhaps in a short time or over many years…or perhaps how many birds have come to nest in your branches. As you listen to the reading again, reflect on how you experience the Kingdom of God as it grows through you and around you. As this time of prayer comes to a close, place yourself into the hands of God as he enables your faith to expand and grow within you. You might like to also pray for others around you to grow in their own faith. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.