Do you ever wonder what kind of stories Jesus might tell today if He came among us to preach? Would He use the same examples in His 2000 year-old parables which we read today? Would we hear about “talents and treasures” or “a widow’s mite” or as in today’s Gospel, the Savior speaks about gardening and baking—two items that His listeners certainly understood through everyday life as they were part of daily survival for His audience. Most likely, the Lord would do the same style of preaching and teaching with us today—only using easily understood modern situations—and I am thankful for this since I only garden by direction, and cook by telephone. Maybe He would speak to “being connected’ to the community in which we live, anxiety and stress, or perhaps He would highlight issues of the dignity of life as we use modern technology to manipulate early life stages to benefit existing lives?

In all of these questions, I believe the central theme of today’s Gospel message is this: No matter what the trials and tribulations of one’s life, no matter the obstacles found in-and-among the Christian in the modern world, the Kingdom of Heaven shall flourish no matter what, for we hear in Sacred Scripture: “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” As God, Jesus spoke these words and used “shall not prevail against it” when He spoke of the Kingdom of God being
attacked by the world. Pretty definitive I would say.

Today’s Gospel has three “stories” about God’s patience and His plans for the world He has created and for us who shall live in it. First, when dealing with good plantings and weeds we hear: the owner speak to the slaves who ask if they should pull up the weeds now along with the good plantings. The owner says, no—at harvest time I will deal with the weeds (let us ponder heavenly knowledge taught by God, free will utilized and given to humanity, and Judgment Day coming); in the second story, we hear of the tiniest of seeds—the mustard seed—and it growing into the largest and mightiest of bushes, proving for all needs of the birds and creatures (let us consider here the idea of with patience and assistance—the Sacraments of the Church—the plantings of God will mature and grow in strength); in the third parable we hear of a women who is about to make bread. Adding yeast to the wheat flour, the bread is leavened and comes to fruition—it’s desired and natural state (here we are called to the words of Saint Catherine of Siena: “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world ablaze”).

This Sunday’s message is powerful: the power and truth of God will not be wiped out or thwarted by the obstacles of convenience in the modern world nor by the evil one, rather the power of God and His design for each of us shall flourish—by our choice or not—and His Will shall be accomplished in this world, either by the many or the remnants. Let us remember Jesus’ words to Peter: “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18) And so our choice is to
become His active, faithful disciples.