Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
Growing together
Then he said, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a person 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.” Lk 13,18-21
The today’s gospel presents two parables which urge us to grow in the reality of the Kingdom. That one of the mustard seed indicates the reason of the growth: to generate protection for the humble and poor people who need it. That one of the yeast shows the way to be able to grow. The baskets of the bakers, in the shops of the town centers, make a fine show, filled with bread of different shapes and flavors. And the supermarkets, in turn, prepare banks increasingly rich of bread and cakes of all kinds. Many women, however, still love to bake bread at home, because no purchased product will ever be able to spread the scent of the bread which is cooked in the oven. And, when I read the gospel of today, images come to my mind, almost ancestral, of the piece of yeast which is mixed with the flour: it is an inedible and unpleasantly smelling substance, but it is one which allows to turn the dough of flour and water, which is just as inedible, in fragrant bread, namely in the preeminent food. Perhaps Jesus has chosen this parable to show us what we are and what we could become in the kingdom of heaven. We too are very few things, such as the yeast, if we remain limited in our individualism and if we want to preserve our personal identity in a self-serving mode. If, however, we give up by merging with our neighbors, if we agree to lose ourselves to be available to the others, to grow together, the eternal miracle which feeds the humanity since thousands of years is consequently repeated: instead of two substances, both inedible, we have the best food, that one which gives taste and energy. Instill to us, Lord, the desire to unite ourselves with our neighbor, to offer what we are, to be able to grow together. Help us to recognize the misery which lurks in the words “I” and “mine” to discover the riches contained in the word ”we” and “our”.