Cultivating Belonging
Matthew 13:31-32
He put before them another parable:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
We often are not taught to appreciate Jesus’s deep connection to Earth and wild places. While his ministry took him to villages, towns, and the Jerusalem city square, the backdrop of his ministry frequently included rural spaces, mountaintops, lakes, rivers–the wilderness.
He was known for withdrawing to quiet places in nature to find rejuvenation through solitude and prayer, and he drew on the varied features of his terrain for many of his parables. Jesus was Teacher, and Earth, alongside scripture and Spirit, was one of his primary sources.
The humble mustard tree gives a window into the mysteries of God’s Kingdom: it is planted by a seemingly insignificant seed, crucifixion, but grows to be a source of blessing–providing shade and space for nest-making, God’s Reign nurtures flourishing and belonging.
What could it look like for you or your church to be branches of the mustard tree in your community?
— Evan Amo
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