Today I am sharing a reflection I wrote for the March 2025 issue of Give Us This Day, published by Liturgical Press. First, I will give you the Gospel on which the reflection is based. Then I’ll share the reflection.
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Matthew 13: 31-35
Jesus proposed another parable to them. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the birds of the sky come down and dwell in its branches.”
He spoke to them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.”
All these things Jesus spoke to the crowd in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world.”
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Small. Gradual. Hidden
In the gospel passage above, Jesus shares two parable of the Kingdom of God. In the first, he compares the Kingdom to a mustard seed. What does this imply? First, that the Kingdom begins small. Tiny, in fact. Perhaps easily missed. Second, seeds usually develop gradually, often slowly. “Presto” is not God’s usual way of doing things. God’s ways are more slow-but-steady. Third, a seed is not a finished product. It is hidden potential.
Then Jesus says the Kingdom of God is like yeast that a woman (in her kitchen) mixes with “three measures of wheat flour”–enough for sixty loaves! Was she feeding an army? More likely, a wedding feast. Yeast works secretly. A tiny amount has a huge effect on the entire dough. These two short parables (only four sentences long) can raise some questions worth pondering.
Are we too enamored with the big and spectacular in our world? Little is beautiful. Small can be good. Are we too focused on the loud, the showy, the sensational in our lives? What lies hidden can matter the most.
Do we expect instant results? Growth takes time. Do we demand the total package, the finished product in individuals, in our institutions, in ourselves? Maybe we need to nourish potential more. Do we downplay the ordinary in our lives? Instead, may we learn to see the miraculous in the mundane… and come to believe that all places–even gardens and kitchens–can harbor the holy.
For reflection…
What “small” things in your life do you find beautiful?
Is there someone in your own life who helped nourish the potential in you? How did they do that?
Is there an ordinary place in your life that you feel is a “holy place” for you? What makes it holy?
Where do you experience the “Kingdom of God” in your life?
PS: It was a privilege for me to walk this past week with 59 retreatants at Our Lady of Snows Shrine in Belleville, IL. Thank you for your enthusisam, goodness, and prayerfulness. I was deeply inspired by all of you! A special thank you for Fr. Mark and the fine staff there for making the retreat run so smoothly. And finally, thank you to our blog readers for remembering us in your prayers!
Our video today is the old classic, “In His Time” by Maranatha. I chose this version for its array of images of God’s magnificent creation. Just click the link below:
As always, I encourage you to share a thought or two in the comments below…
32 Responses
Small people (sometimes called grandchildren)
Small kindnesses (smiles, nods, thumbs up)
Small moments of calm and pause
And small comments…like yours, Priscilla… Thank you! Melannie
Excellent, Priscilla!
I agree, Mary! Melannie
Dan Schutte’s song “In God’s Perfect Time” is a reminder that God’s timing never fails us; we need to get out of the way.
Charlene, Thank you for the song recommendation! I liked your “we need to get out of the way.” Melannie
I experience the kingdom of God every day when I walk into our school. Each child yearns for love and acceptance. Although the family is the first teacher, my goal is to spread a lot of Gods love during the eight hours that I am with my students!
Mary, What a Christ-like attitude to have each morning as you enter your school. Sometimes, a particular teacher spends more time with the children then their parents do. Thanks for writing! Melannie
What a beautiful reflection. I’ll use it today at prayer. The video was beautiful and prayerful too. Thank you and have a blessed day.
Diane, You’ve blessed my day by your simple comment. Thank you! Melannie
😇 “the miraculous in the mundane”
Each day that I awake, I look forward to my first cup of tea. Today while I sip the brewed tea leaves “expertly selected from Kenya, Indonesia, Assam and China,” I’ll relish in the miracle that once upon an ancient time, a leaf from a wild tea bush drifted into a pot of boiling water and… 😋
Annmarie, I liked your musings on who made the first cup of tea! Maybe it was by accident. But tea remains the most universal beverage in the world–and thoughout human history! (I think beer and wine are a close second!) Melannie
The other day I was walking into a neighborhood Walmart and this lady stopped me. She said that my smile had made her day. I was dumbfounded. It was just a smile…or was it?
Valorie, what a beautiful experience for both of you. I believe smiles are a reflection of God’s presence within.
Valorie,
What a beautiful little story. You really “connected” with this stranger in such a simple way! Thanks for sharing this story with us! Melannie
I loved today’s blog reflections, two of my favorite gospel parables. The video was well chosen and beautiful. Thank you Melannie.
Small is good and can be more profound than the booms. Watching children play, watching flowers bloom, experiencing fresh air in the morning, catching a beautiful smile.
Loretta, Thank you for your simple examples of small things being beautiful. What struck me was your “experiencing fresh air in the morning.” Millions of people–including people living near Cleveland (like you and me), Pittsburg, Buffalo, etc. are experiencing that smoke from those hundreds of forest fires in Canada. Let us continue to pray for all who are affected by or who are fighting those massive fires… Melannie
Today was a tough day. The only thing I can think about is my husky who passed over the rainbow bridge this morning so I’m going to write about her. She wasn’t very little but I experienced God’s love in my life because of her. She had a goofy grin that always made me smile. I’d imagine God smiling and being happy to see me. She was a talker mostly to or at me of the three of us who lived with her. I believe God is always talking to me trying to make me understand what He wants from and for me. Whenever I would be upset with her she was always forgiving usually giving me a big kiss which would say that she still loved me. God is like that too. There’s a saying that God spelled backwards is dog because a dog is the closest creature to show us God’s unconditional love. Princess did that for me. Thank you for this week’s blog Sister. God bless you and each of us!
Martha, My deepest sympathy to you on the loss of your beloved Princess. I’m so sorry… She was a beautiful dog. Thank you for sharing her with us today–her “goofy grin,” her “talking” with you, her reflecting God’s unconditional love for you. I’m sure many who read what you wrote here (like me) have also known the joy of having a beloved pet… And we share your sorrow… Thank you, Martha… Melannie
Small. Gradual. Hidden. What a wonderful mantra!
I am searching for the next chapter in my journey. Listening for the Spirit to whisper in my ear. Those three words spoke to me today. Thanks Sister Melannie.
Kathleen, I’m so grateful that these three little words could speak to you as you are searching for the next chapter of your journey. I will pray for you and your searching… Melannie
I sub scribe to Give Us This Day and I cut out your reflection from July 22,2026. I am 82 and doing too much.I was trying to deal with Chloeesterol, etc. naturally. Well after a. Small stroke things changed and I a m now on medicine and recovering. I love you Reflection and now your blog. I am used to being so busy and being there for others but now I am taking care of myself. However, it is hard adjusting. I still can help others but not a vigorous schedule. In HisTime was perfect for me. I am a gardener but limited this year but in His time I will be back. I thank God for finding you for me. Yours is the first I cut out to follow
You were lost, but now are found!
Somehow I have missed your messages but so very grateful you are back in my life.
You and your writings are such a dear treasure!
Sunnie Poplar
Sunnie, I’m so happy that you found my blog again. t was good getting your little comment today! Melannie
This week’s blog reminded me of the following poem by Dr. Benjamin Mays, a civil rights leader:
“I’ve only just a minute,
Only sixty seconds in it.
Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it,
But it’s up to me to use it.
I must suffer if I lose it,
Give an account if I abuse it.
Just a tiny little minute,
But eternity is in it.”
Time, composed of tiny seconds, is God’s gift to us, to be used for Him and with Him. Every day the gift is renewed!
Thank you, Sr. Melanie for these thoughts to ponder.
Beverly, Thank you for sharing Mays’ little poem with us. It’s beautiful! I liked especially the last two lines: “Just a tiny little minute, But eternity is in it.” Amen to that! Melannie
A simple meal cooking from home is something small that is lost today. The profound impact of cooking a meal cannot be replicated and it is worth going out of our way to spend 2 hours doing so even if it only saves a few dollars. The home cooked meal experience is priceless.
Thank you, Brandon, for your example of something small but precious: a simple home cooked meal. So many of my childhood memories revolve around the kitchen, where my mother worked her magic producing meatloaf with green beans and real mashed potatoes, grilled cheese sandwiches on Friday, remarkable Sunday goose dinners wth dumplings and sauerkraut, and fresh “hoska” and cinnamon rolls every Saturday. To this day I can effortlessly recall all the scents that emanated from her kitchen. For me, smelling the meal while it was being prepared was half the joy of eating it! Melannie
This song was a perfect reminder of the truth that all happens in God’s time. Yesterday I was awakened by friends who informed me of the passing of a good friend in her sleep. This message helps to put that loss in perspective. Thanks.
Sr. Mary Therese, My deepest sympathy to you on the loss of your dear friend. I’m glad that song could give you some peace… Melannie
When I just sit and look at a tree in mid summer and it’s fully leafed out I am just so overwhelmed to think about how that can happen?? Three months ago it was a bare set of branches and suddenly tiny green buds appeared. I know the “ science “ but the divine “how” simply intrigues me.
Patt with 2 T’s, Once again you’ve given us a brief and profound comment to reflect on… You have beheld this familiar tree with the “eyes of a mystic” and your “beholding” has lead you to go beyond the “science” of this “event” to “the divine HOW.” What’s more, you’ve made me “see” this ordinary event too through your eyes–and have led me to “the divine WHY.” Thank you so much! Melannie with 2 N’s