I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world

 Another parable He put forth to them, saying:  "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."

Another parable He spoke to them:  "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."

All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:

"I will open My mouth in parables;
I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."

- Matthew 13:31-35

In recent readings, Jesus has begun a turning point in His ministry, teaching the crowds in parables.  In Tuesday's reading, Jesus told the parable of the Sower (He who has ears to hear, let him hear!).  In Wednesday's reading, Jesus explained the purpose of teaching via parables, after His disciples asked, "Why do you speak to them in parables?"  On Thursday, we read Jesus' explanation to His disciples of the meaning of the parable of the Sower (Therefore hear the parable of the sower).  Yesterday, we read that Jesus gave them another parable:  "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.  But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.  So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field?  How then does it have tares?'  He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.'  The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?'  But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." ' "

Another parable He put forth to them, saying:  "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."  Another parable He spoke to them:  "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."  My study bible tells us:  "These two short parables signify the startling success of God's Kingdom.  A few weak fishermen will convert the whole world because of the divine power of the gospel."

All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:  "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."  As we've explored before, Jesus teaches in parables so that those who truly desire what He has to offer will come to Him.  He compels no one to love Him -- and this is one important reason why He refuses to give "proofs" on demand.  His ministry clearly reveals who He is, to those "with ears to hear."  Here, we go deeper into the mystery of the parables.  They reveal deep secrets which remain hidden to those who cannot hear and do not wish to perceive.  They invite the hearers into mystery; but there must be a response in the heart to enter in via relationship -- and this is part of the mystery of just what the Kingdom is.

I love the two small parables given at the beginning of today's reading, because Jesus is clearly -- as stated -- teaching us about the nature of the Kingdom.  The tiniest of seeds becomes the greatest of trees, and this tree even supports other life, the life of the birds.  The birds suggest to us the work of the Spirit, "the birds of the air" suggest the messengers of God who serve in this ministry of the Spirit, the angels.  The tiny seed takes root in us and among us, and the trees grow to support the work of the Kingdom.  It's like a field that is present within us and among us, something great and magnificent and mysterious, but it comes in response to the call of the mystery in the parables.  That the Kingdom is like leaven "hidden" in measures of meal is another key to the mysterious qualities of this Kingdom.  A little leaven changes the quality of the whole of the meal -- so the Kingdom also works to change and transform, it permeates everything.  Its growth isn't simply a new addition, like the great tree from the mustard seed; it also changes the qualities of what exists already, and permeates everything.  Finally, Jesus' teaching and the use of the word "hidden" for the leaven is a key to something essential to understand in today's reading.  He doesn't say it is "mixed" in -- He says it is "hidden" in the meal.  This same word is used in the quotation, which is from Psalm 78.  The things "kept secret" from the foundation of the world are the things that are hidden; it's the same root word used here in the original Greek of the Gospel.  So the kingdom of God is a great mystery -- this tree and this leaven, these things that grow magnificently and astoundingly even to support new life, this leaven that changes the character and nature of an entire lump of dough, that mysteriously transforms and works in an inner, "hidden" way -- all of this is mystery.  But it's a mystery into which we are invited.  It's a mystery in which we are welcome to participate, but we must have ears to hear.  Jesus wants responsive hearts, the sheep who hear His voice, who know Him.  We're invited into relationship, which is citizenship in this Kingdom, in which we are loved and know His love.  It starts with a seed.  But it bears fruit within us as it grows and transforms.