<p><em>The problems of the world can feel so overwhelming: climate change bigotry poverty. Where does one even begin to make a difference? In todays gospel Jesus suggests that the scope of the problem does not change the pathway to a solution. It is still primarily small changes in our hearts through which the miraculous healing and communion of the Divine Reign come to infiltrate our existence.</em></p><p><strong>July 23 2023: Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A</strong></p><p>Wisdom 12:13 16-19</p><p>Psalm 86:5-6 9-10 15-16</p><p>Romans 8:26-27</p><p>Matthew 13:24-43</p><h3><strong>The God of Small Things*<br></strong></h3><p><strong><em>A reflection by Jeff Vomund<br></em></strong></p><p>Im always amazed at how small Jesus ministry was. Most of Jesuss public ministrysome scholars estimate as much as 85%was spent in about a <a href=https://dignityusa.app.neoncrm.com/track//servlet/DisplayLink?orgId=dignityusa&amp;&amp;&amp;linkId=5726&amp;targetUrl=http://www.eoupdate.com/blog/2018/6/26/twelve-square-miles-of-clay>12 square mile patch</a> of ground along the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee. Despite some grandiose claims scattered throughout the gospels (e.g. the feeding of the 5000) much of Jesus work was directed at his own small band of followers. After he died they could all pretty much fit in one room (John 20:19-23)!</p><p>Not only that but much of Jesus ministry was filled with very regular day-to-day activities. For every miraculous healing there seem to be 2 or 3 dinner parties hanging out with local fishers or simple acts of street preaching. Jesus told stories ate with all kinds of people joined the other rabbis in discussions of the Scriptures and so on. In many ways it was an unremarkable life. If Jesus had not run afoul of the Romans and Jewish leaders with a few acts of protest one wonders if he would be remembered at all?</p><p>However todays gospel suggests that Jesus small actions were not an accident but a strategyless political maneuver and more theological perspective. In todays parables Jesus tells the crowd the Gods reign can be likened to planting crops or the mustard seed or the work of yeast. Each of these small realities Jesus claims can have an effect way beyond its size. It turns out this is not so much Jesuss new idea as his development of a theme throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. Consider when Naaman approached Elisha to be healed of leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-19). Naaman wanted to perform mighty deeds to earn his healing but Elisha just asked him to take some baths in the Jordan River. Similarly Moses begins the great journey to free the Israelites by simply taking off his shoes. Abram begins the founding of a nation with an innocuous decision to move to a new land. Jesus continues this theme inviting disciples to keep asking God for what we need (Luke 18:1-8) to keep forgiving our neighbors (Matthew 18:21-22) to keep sharing with those in need even if it is only two small coins (Luke 21:1-4). These are not world-changing activities.</p><p>Or are they? Jesus suggests throughout the gospels and especially in this passage that these seemingly little acts of compassion and integrity are precisely what will change the world; or rather these are the actions through which Gods influence in the world takes hold. Jesus claims that Gods reignthat is the gift and pattern of right relationship with one another and creation<em>happens</em> through these small acts. As such Jesus imbues our daily quotidian thoughts and actions with Divine dignity and infinite capacity. This is not to say that one should not work for systemic and large-scale changes to make the world a more just and compassionate place. Quite the opposite. Jesus shows that these big goals are built on a foundation of small acts of kindness tiny decisions to forgives and little compassions that blossom beyond our wildest beliefs.</p><p>This makes me wonder what mustard seed of a change Love is currently calling me to live. How might the yeast of forgiveness create new spaces in the world for relationship and connection? Where can I drop the kernel of kindness that might blossom into friendship? What small acts of generosity or compassion could grow into new ministries or missions? What tiny act of mercy might free me (or another) to find more joy? What unnoticed moment of integrity might enlarge ones capacity for courage on a larger stage? Like Moses what small acknowledgement of the Holy might put us on a path to a whole new mission?</p><p>Every one of us would probably answer these questions differently but each of them shares the same pattern that Jesus proclaimed as Gods reign: small moments of being our best selves creates exponentially more space which Love can inhabit. Our tiniest acts of integrity open our world to the vast expanse of the Divine Presence. This is the pattern Jesus proclaims. Gods generous gifting of the Divine Reign to us. We are called to make the most miniscule moves in its direction and then marvel at the magnificent manner in which Love responds.</p><p><em>* The title is borrowed from Arundhati Roys first novel. A beautifully subversive text of which I suspect Jesus would highly approve.</em></p><div><div class=titan__email-divider><img src='https://www.dignityusa.org/sites/default/files/jeff_0.png'>&nbsp;</div><div class=titan__email-divider></div></div><div class=mobile-full><em><strong>Jeff Vomund</strong> is a member of Dignity/Washington and currently lives in Arlington VA. After 15+ years of full-time parish ministry and 7 years of teaching students with particular learning needs Jeff now works at George Mason University as a Graduate Research Assistant and a Graduate Lecturer while pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology.</em></div>