27 October 2026.
Below is the full text of the homily delivered by Rev. John E. John on the Tuesday of Week 30 in Ordinary Time in Rome.
Gospel of the Day: Luke 13: 18-21.
In his homily, he challenges us to reflect on the mystery of the Kingdom of God, which Jesus compares to a mustard seed and yeast in the Gospel passage.
Today Jesus continues his catechesis on the Kingdom of God. The reality of the Kingdom is so demanding, so pressing, so imminent, that Jesus goes to great lengths, almost insistently, incessantly, relentlessly to communicate and to teach us about this reality. The more our mind can grapple with and penetrate the mystery of the Kingdom of God, the more we understand the nature, person and mission of Jesus Christ. Someone who fails to understand the nature of the Kingdom of God will fail to understand Jesus as well.
The parable of the mustard seed is in all the three synoptic gospels. What is special about this parable? The Kingdom of God is like a tiny mustard seed that a man takes and throws into his garden. It grows into a tree and the birds of the air take shelter within its branches.
Unlike the other parables, Jesus has not offered an explanation for this parable. It is there for us to decipher its meaning. Jesus seems to ask us, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?” (Mark 4:13-14). “To you is granted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God; for the rest it remains in parables.” (Luke 8:10; Mark 4:11; Matthew 13:11).
What is the mustard seed? What is the garden? What the shrub and what are its branches? What does the growth signify? Who are the birds of the air who take shelter in those branches?
Is the mustard seed the tiny seed of the Kingdom of God which is sown by preachers of the Gospel? Is the garden our soul? Is the tree the reality of the Kingdom which has now taken root and “reaches full growth” within us? Are the branches the everlasting fruits of contemplation of the Kingdom and which signify our union with the One who dwells within us? Are the birds of the air the angels, and Saint Peter says, “even the angels long to catch a glimpse of these things”; “angels are ascending and descending on the Son of Man”.. the parable is given over to us to ponder.
The message of the parable seems to be straightforward: it seems to point to something great growing within us which will eventually offer shelter for many others – but the origin of this reality is from something very small, insignificant and almost unnoticeable – this is the tiny mustard seed. Something great starting from something very small. The message is for us to receive, retain and treasure the tiny mustard seed of the Kingdom of God and to watch over its growth within our souls.
The parable of the yeast points to a different characteristic of the Kingdom of God – its transforming power. What does yeast do to flour? When yeast is mixed with flour, the very nature of the dough is transformed – it rises and when baked, becomes bread. So also, when we welcome the Kingdom of God within us, our very nature and substance is transformed – we are leavened - so to say - and are ready to be transformed into life-giving bread for others. Again what is the yeast? Who is the woman in the parable? What are the three measures of flour? What does the leavening signify? Is the yeast which has the power to transform, the Kingdom of God springing forth from the preaching of the Gospel of the kingdom which must be preached to all the nations? Does the woman signify the Lord, who wakes up early and thinks of her whole household and workers? Do the three measures signify the three measures of flour baked by Sarah when together with Abraham they welcome the three divine visitors? Do they signify the three time periods – what was, what is, and what is to come? The meanings are left to us to decipher. The Kingdom of God comes to meet people in every generation. Before Abraham ever was, I am. The Lord met the first man; He will also meet the last man on this earth (Sirach 24:28).