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Condiment of God’s Realm
Mark 4:26-34
June 14, 2015
East Congregational United Church of Christ
Rev. Ruth D. Fitzgerald
The kingdom of heaven can be compared to the mustard seed, the smallest of all, that grows into a shrub so big that birds can roost in its branches. This seed—of a plant understood in ancient times as a hardy and fearsome weed—this seed can grow into something of deep value. This smallest seed grows and grows and changes into something else altogether—affecting not only the plant but the world nearby.
I know that when you heard me say the word “mustard” some of you must have envisioned the bright yellow bottles of French’s mustard that flavors our hotdogs and hamburgers. The mustard we are talking about here is nothing like that. In ancient times, everyone would have known what mustard was—a common plant with a remarkable rate of growth. It was no bright yellow condiment.
It is, however, the symbol of the amazing and miraculous growth of the kingdom of heaven among us.
How do we even begin to know this? If it’s at the seed stage with us, maybe we’ll miss it. If it’s growing unchecked, it might seem to us like the forsythia or evergreen shrubs that quite literally take over the entire back yard in a single season. And, if it is mature, overgrown and providing shelter or roosts to birds—how can we miss it?
This week, I think we can miss the kingdom of heaven very easily. The powers and principalities are pressing in against seeds of hope. I needed to read this passage. I needed to read about the very smallest seeds germinating, popping open and yielding more than any of us can imagine. From the smallest beginnings we can depend on God’s kingdom coming among us.
You’ve heard the saying: “One bad apple doesn’t spoil the whole bushel.” Or, “He’s a bad egg.” I think we have some bad apples (or eggs) among us. I pray these are not seeds with the same power we read about today.
Our Michigan lawmakers were busy this week. Depending on how you look at it, there are some bad apples among us. There are perceived “bad apples” in families receiving cash assistance from our state.
So, to bring more control over that program our legislators passed bills that would rescind cash assistance from families whose children are truant from school.
According to the website, cash assistance is meant for pregnant women and low-income families with minor children. The qualifications for the program state this: “The cash asset limit is $3,000. Assets are cash or any property you own. Assets such as your vehicles and personal belongings are not counted.” There are income qualifications, but those vary so much it’s hard to generalize. There are some “bad apples” in this population. There are some ineffective parents. There are some people whose children skip school. The people in this qualifying category do not have any cushion. They depend on this cash assistance for not only the student who is truant, but generally for other minor children in the household.
Truancy from school is not a low-income issue. How many of you had a teenager who skipped school?
Except during basketball season, I know my brother was often not in school in one of the wealthiest school districts in this state. Privilege protected my family from suffering the consequences of his youthful bad decisions. There are “bad apples” everywhere.

There are some “bad apples” among us; among the people receiving benefits and among the leaders of our state. The governor signed this bill into law.
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Low income and vulnerable folks will bear the brunt of this week’s legislative work.
The house passed a bill eliminating low income tax credits.
The bill that allows adoption agencies to discriminate against folks who seek to adopt children was also signed by the governor.
The legislature passed a bill that would prevent local communities from setting higher minimum wage standards or allowing paid time off in workplace ordinances.
All of these measures will affect the more vulnerable families in this state.
As Christians, no matter our politics, we should always be concerned about the youngest, the oldest, the weakest, the most vulnerable who live and work among us. The civic common good depends on it.
God’s kingdom grows in this.
There are seeds of God’s kingdom among us. Or at least I think there are. . If we allow the bad apples to take over and grow, we risk missing the mustard shrub of God’s realm right in front of us. Like the mustard in the bright yellow bottles, God’s kingdom may come in small doses and bring just a whiff of change. We can pray for this
The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. Small and mighty with amazing potential for growth.
I don’t know exactly what I can do, but I do know that the passage that comes right after today’s passage tells us that as faithful people, when the storms of life come, we are to trust in God. When God feels far away, remember the powerful story of the storm on the sea.
Picking up exactly where Pat finished reading earlier:
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’
And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’
And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’
Into the disciples’ hearts Jesus planted the seeds of his realm on earth. They are in our hearts, too.
When we find ourselves in the stormy waters of life, fearful, frustrated, despairing, we might ask “do you not care that we are perishing”, threatened, exhausted? And, the answer will come, I pray. “Peace.”
“Why are you afraid”
While we are waiting to hear this assurance, I believe we are called to do something. What? I’m not sure. But as we live into a new vision, I believe we might consider new ways to witness to the power of even the tiniest seeds of hope. That we depend on just the smallest taste of a tangy condiment to infuse us with new resolve.

Mustard goes a long way. Its effect can be strong. This mustard is within us and we can live in this realm of God in new ways. Maybe we could mentor middle school and high school students so they don’t become students with truancy problems? Expand the reach of our food pantry? Increase our active advocacy for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender folks as an Open and Affirming congregation? What else?
Seeds. Even small seeds with God’s power will grow. Grow and grow and grow into something where birds (or new folks) will find a place to rest.
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May it be so.