In the grand scheme of things, we’re small. We are the tiniest of tiniest specks in the universe. In this world, we are really not that much bigger – each of us being one person in a sea of 7 billion. Even in the communities we live, the places we work, the schools we attend, we may be yet another face in the crowd, a number amongst many. But each of us, like that mustard seed Jesus talks about in todays Gospel, have so much potential.
It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”
Each of us have the potential to grow and do unlimited things, positively affect countless people, and leave an impact on this planet that transcends time. Each of us can grow into something much larger throughout the course of our lives. It has nothing to do with your job title, or your status, or how many people you manage or how much money you make. It’s about what you do with what you have, and so many times, the people who appear to have the least or feel the smallest end up doing some of the greatest things – like the mustard seed. Most times, we just need to get out of our own way and let God do His work.
I remember when my son was born, I had this tiny baby boy in my arms that I did not have a clue what to do with. But like most parents, at that same moment, I looked at him in his eyes and wondered who he would be some day. Not what he would do for a job, but who he would be. Who would he be to this world? It makes no difference if he is President of the United States, a Nobel Prize winning doctor, a computer programmer, or a janitor. So many times we are so caught up in status and money that we want our kids to be successful. But what defines success? Because as God says in todays first reading from Ezekiel today:
And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the LORD, bring low the high tree, lift high the lowly tree, wither up the green tree, and make the withered tree bloom.
Even the biggest trees in this world need to be trimmed from time to time, so the lower trees can rise up and grow. The most lush trees must wither and lose their leaves so they can bloom brighter later on.
We are the same way. Sometimes we need to be humbled and other times we need to be raised up. Sometimes we need to go through a drought to gain a new perspective, and other times we will be rewarded. The point is, it’s not about how tall and lush or pretty the tree is that defines whether it is a good tree. It’s about its roots, and how deep they go and what they can withstand.
The same is true for us. It’s not about what we do for a living or how much money we make, or how many people we manage or how important we think we are – it’s about our intentions and motives behind our actions in everything we do, whether it is our job, our families, or in our parish and communities. How deep are we rooted in Christ, and in our faith so we can handle those hurdles and those blessings that come to us in life? Whether we are running a fortune 500 company or cleaning it’s bathrooms – what is our motive in what we do? Do we relish hard work and all that it can provide and doing the best job we possibly can and experiencing our full potential in everything we do, not only in our service to others, but in our own spiritual well being?
And so many times we get so caught up in what we do and our careers that we fail to see and hear from God what our true calling may be and what he expects from us. We all have so much potential in us that only God knows, and so often we fail to simply ask God to show it to us. We cannot conceive of the plans He has for us and what we can offer to this world through our talents and gifts and capabilities. If only we would be quiet, stop texting and scrolling through Facebook, and listen. We all are that mustard seed, and like it says in today’s psalm:
The just one shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow. They that are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
If we are rooted in God, and try to follow Christ’s Gospel to the best of our ability, we can grow and flourish to unimaginable heights.
I think back to that day, almost 7 years ago, when I held that tiny boy in my arms… That little mustard seed of mine… Who do I want him to be? I want him to be someone who puts God first, and then others before himself in everything that he does – whether it’s sports, his job, his family, work around the house, or even driving in traffic. It’s not about what he does for a job, because what we do changes so much throughout our lives. I want him to be a reflection of Christ in all that he does. I want him to do his best no matter his career, or how much money he makes, or how many people finish before him. I want him to put all his effort into everything he does with integrity knowing that how he acts, both good or bad, affects countless other people.
We all can choose our path. We can all think about what Jesus would do in any situation we are in, and how we should be treating others, and how we should embrace everything in life as a blessing. We all have so much God-given potential in our life. It’s already deep within us. We just need to realize it, get out of the way and let the seed grow.
