Several years ago, a friend sent me a fascinating link demonstrating the scale of the universe from the smallest known measurement, 0.0000000001 yoctometers, to the farthest point in the observable universe, a picture of a “deep field” from the Hubble Telescope that is 12.7 billion light years away or 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 meters from us. By the way, the largest known measurement is a yottameter. I find these measurements staggering. I cannot imagine a yoctometer, much less a yottameter! But in today’s world, scientists have discovered or at least theorized about the smallest of elements and calculated distances far beyond our own galaxy. And although I cannot comprehend this level of scientific theory, I believe the scientists. I believe that there are things the size of a yoctometer in our universe and I believe that there are galaxies that are a yottameter or more away from us.
In today’s gospel from Mark 4:26-34, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to “the smallest of all the seeds on the earth,” a mustard seed, that “springs up and becomes the largest of plants.” When Jesus walked on our earth more than 2000 years ago, he spoke from what he observed and from divine inspiration. And when he taught, he used examples that he knew his listeners would understand. We know today that the mustard seed is not the smallest seed and we know that a mustard tree isn’t all that big. But to a first century Palestinian farmer, the mustard seed probably was the smallest seed they ever saw and the mustard tree is a fairly substantial plant. So, the mustard seed and mustard tree served as good examples to explain the workings of the Kingdom of God.
In the Kingdom of God the smallest and seemingly most inconsequential things grow in magnitude - sometimes with mind boggling results. A tiny mustard seed can grow into a huge plant. A kind word or deed can transform a person’s life. A handful of very ordinary first century fishermen, farmers and a tax collector could lead a movement that changed the world. A Pharisee who assisted in killing early Christians could have a conversion experience and become the world’s greatest Christian evangelist. And, who knows, perhaps something as small as a yoctometer can impact a galaxy 1. 3 yottameters (137 million light years) away.
In the Kingdom of God the obscure become great, the weak become strong and the poor become rich in ways we may never see or understand. Whenever we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we ask “Thy Kingdom come.” God our Father plants the seeds of the Kingdom in all of us, the seeds of faith and love and compassion and mercy. As Christians our job is to cultivate and nurture these seeds to help them grow thus assuring that the Kingdom does come today, here in Peachtree City.
Today is Father’s Day. It is a day set aside for us to honor and remember our fathers if they have died and to honor and thank our fathers if they are still with us. Fathers, like mustard trees, put out branches that shelter us and protect us. The very first place we learn about God’s love for us is in our homes. The very first people who demonstrate God’s compassionate love for us are our parents. Fathers have a special responsibility to make God’s love present to their families, their communities and to our world.
And so on this day we say a special prayer for all fathers:
God is the giver of all life, human and divine.
May he bless all fathers.
With their wives they are the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith.
May they be also the best of teachers,
Bearing witness to the faith by what they say and do,
In Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen
