URC Daily Devotion Tuesday 13 January 2026

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”

Reflection

‘Tall oaks from small acorns grow’ is a proverb that summarises these parables of Jesus regarding the mustard seed and yeast. They suggest that great things can only emerge from small beginnings. Perhaps they can only ever do so; as this process is fundamental to nature as evidenced throughout creation including in humanity.
It is easy to jump from these parables to conclude we must always be busy doing little things – acts of kindness, justice, organising, worshipping. There is another element. Once the seed is in the ground, and the yeast in the flour, there is a significant time of waiting and resting. This is when God’s grace and generosity is even more apparent than in the planting and mixing.

A pregnant woman cannot rush the period of gestation. She can only open herself up to the new life within and start to bond with the baby. This entails her caring for her body while the growth within takes place. A seed can only lie in the dark and wait for the husk to break down and germination to take its course and then the seedling can seek the light. Yeast has to patiently be proved. This allows the yeast to ferment, creating gases that lighten the dough and develop flavour. Only then, when the dough has potentially doubled in size, is it ready for baking. After all this the nourishment of bread is ready and can be offered more widely.

We cannot rush the grace of God to birth resurrection life in us. We can only open ourselves to the possibility of resurrection as we surrender and die to the small thing that is. Only then can God birth new life in us and our communities, nations and throughout the cosmos.  As the Lord’s Prayer petition bids us pray, ‘May your kingdom come on earth as in heaven.’

Prayer

Resurrected Christ,
bodily husk crucified, planted in the tomb
germinating for three days,
plant, within us, abundant life.
 
Bread of life,
risen from death,
mix your Spirit within us
leading us to rise as one with you.
 
Grace of God,
empower us to rest and wait,
opening ourselves to your constant presence
generating through our small lives your kingdom.
Amen