Homily: October27, 2026, Tuesday of the Thirtieth week in Ordinary Time (Kingdom of God)

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 “It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.”

“It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour.”

In today's Gospel, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to two very small things: a mustard seed and yeast.

Both teach us about how God's Kingdom grows. In both cases, the growth happens quietly, almost invisibly. We cannot see the growth from moment to moment, but eventually we see the results.

When we look at the two-thousand-year history of the Church, we see this very clearly. The Church began with a small group of ordinary people. It faced centuries of persecution, suffering, and opposition. Yet, it not only survived but spread throughout the world. The tiny mustard seed became a great tree.

Today, we seem to be very concerned about the growth of the Church. We conduct surveys, studies, and research. We count how many people attend Mass, how many are baptized, and how many are leaving the Church. And when the numbers go down, we become worried and discouraged.

Sometimes, in our concern about numbers, we forget one important truth: the growth of God's Kingdom is ultimately God's work, not ours.

Jesus does not say that the man who planted the mustard seed made it grow. He simply planted it. The seed grew through a process beyond his control.

The same is true of our ministry and our Christian lives.

We are called to sow the seeds of faith, love, kindness, forgiveness, peace, and goodness. We may never see the full results of what we have done. 

And that is perfectly fine. We are not called to control the growth of God's Kingdom. We are called to be faithful in planting the seeds.

Jesus Christ is the King of this Kingdom. It belongs to Him. He is in control. As we profess in the Creed, "His Kingdom will have no end."

So, let us not become discouraged when we do not see immediate results from our good works.

Let us do our part faithfully and leave the rest to God.

We plant the seeds. God gives the growth. And the Kingdom belongs to Christ forever.

Amen.


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