Theological Truth: The Love of God, made known in Jesus Christ, works through seemingly small and insignificant things…like us.
There’s something about the character Ted Lasso that appeals to the best of human nature. In case you’re unfamiliar with the show, Jason Sudeikis plays an American football coach from Wichita, Kansas, who is hired to coach an English soccer team despite knowing absolutely nothing about soccer. The owner of the team hires Ted out of spite, expecting him to fail miserably and wreck the team, thereby exacting revenge on her ex-husband, the former owner of the club.
But a funny thing happens: Ted doesn’t fail. His counter-cultural kindness, his relentless compassion, and his boundless optimism and generosity win over the toughened athletes, cynical owner, and community at large. He puts up signs around the facility with the single word “BELIEVE” on them, and people do indeed start to believe in Ted’s approach – the transformative power of this counter-cultural way of caring and treating others. They witness how these simple acts of kindness and concern have the power to change their world for the better. It’s a great story, but is it only fiction?
Do we believe that love and kindness, compassion and concern, can transform our world? If we’re going to be honest (a good thing to do in church!) it’s difficult to hold onto the Gospel truth that Love – made known to us in Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension – is the most powerful force in the universe. You don’t have to read too many papers or too many social media comments for your soul to give up on kindness and pivot to cynicism, contempt, malice, or merciless competition.
Like Norm from Cheers used to say, “It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, and it often feels like we’re wearing Milk Bone underpants!” It’s understandable to wonder if there’s any way for us to change the world, as Bishop Curry says, “From the nightmare it so often it is, to the dream that God intends,” when the wolves are at the door. It’s hard to believe in God’s peaceable kingdom when we’re drowning in violence and greed. Can we, as disciples walking the way of Love, really change the world?
Fortunately we have today’s teachings from both Jesus and Paul. Through these first two parables, Jesus demonstrates that small things can have great transformative power. Insignificant agents can bring about powerful change. We know that the mustard seed and yeast are small, barely noticeable. But did you know about their desirability?
Neither mustard seed nor leaven is a prized possession. According to ancient Jewish rules, mustard seeds had to be planted outside the garden, separated from other plants as part of the “different kinds” rules dictated in Leviticus 19:19, like the prohibitions against combining meat and cheese or different kinds of fabric. Yeast, similarly, was considered impure since it was cultivated from cast-off, rotting bread (no Food Lions in ancient Palestine!). Unleavened bread (made without yeast) was used for the holy days, because something with yeast was considered less desirable.
And yet, Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven is like this small, undesirable seed; the Kingdom is like this hidden yeast of questionable origin. Jesus is saying that the small, unlikely, under-appreciated, and often overlooked things of this world can and do bring about enormous, surprising, and far-reaching change. Healthy homes for multiple species. Delicious bread to feed the masses. So much more than we could expect or even imagine. Believe it. The love of God made known in Jesus Christ – this self-giving, relentless, faithful care and concern for us and for all God has made which may seem small and powerless – continues to work on us, in us, and through us to bring about the abundant goodness of the reign of God.
St. Paul reminded and encouraged those early Christians facing persecution and hardship in Rome who were also wondering if this Way of Love was any match for the ways of the world and the might of the empire. He reminded them of the power of the Spirit working in them when he said, “All things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (8:28) He’s not saying that all their good actions will result in good outcomes. And he’s not claiming that all that befalls them will be good or from God. Instead, he’s reminding them that God’s love cannot be stopped; God’s purpose cannot be thwarted; God’s love in Christ is already victorious. If God is for us, who can be against us?
It reminds me of a Native American saying: “The bird sits on a branch not because it trusts the tree, but because it trusts its wings.” We too can contribute our simple, seemingly thankless and powerless acts of loving kindness and courageous compassion, not because we expect to see immediate results, but because we trust that the Spirit is the wind beneath our wings. We believe in the “already-but-not-yetness” of God’s kingdom. We live grounded in the foundational reality that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus. Therefore, we accept that we are ministers, not messiahs. We are the crew, not the Captain. We are yeast and mustard seeds in the slow work of God’s kingdom. We do the work we’ve been given to do.
For this week, here’s some work to do. It’s some advice from a Vanderbilt professor named Paul Lim. Make it a goal this week to engage in a conversation with someone who is not part of your political, religious, or cultural community (and here’s the tricky part) with the goal of learning something from them. Listen to understand their perspective and know them as human beings, rather than listening in order to condemn them or debate their views. “Then,” he says, “watch humility grow, which is a forgotten yet desperately needed virtue in our age of polarization and cancellation.”
Yeast and mustard seeds are humble, and yet they have the power to change their environments for the better. May our faith in the crucified and risen one whose powerlessness is powerful, who came to serve not to be served, strengthen us to walk with gentle, loving humility, trusting that the Spirit of God continues to work in us, on us, and through us, to fully bring about the Kingdom of Heaven.
— Fr. AJ Heine, Rector, Trinity Episcopal Church of Staunton
Ninth Sunday After Pentecost, July 30, 2023
Readings: 1 Kings 3:5-12; Psalm 119:129-131; Romans 8:26-39; Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
