I will open My mouth in parables; 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

Yesterday we read another parable given by Jesus (after the parable of the Sower, see here and here):  "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 the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of 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 notes that the mustard seed and the leaven represent the disciples.   Theophylact comments that they began as just a few men, but "soon encompassed the whole earth."  These parables also stand for faith entering a person's soul, causing an inward growth of virtue.  Such a soul can become godlike and can receive even angels, my study bible says (the birds of the air come and nest in its branches).  

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 quotes from Psalm 78:2, indicating that by using parables, Jesus reveals mysteries of the reality of God at work in the world. 

The two parables given in today's reading are perhaps the simplest and yet the most profoundly impressive, because they teach us about the growth of the Kingdom, and most certainly the growth of the soul.  Theophylact is quoted above (from my study bible) as applying them to the explosive growth of the Church in the wake of the mission of the apostles into the world after Pentecost.  But, also as noted in my study bible, these parables apply to the inner growth of the soul.  What's noteworthy are the different forms of growth implied in the parables.  A mustard seed, which Jesus calls the least of all the seeds, grows into a tree (perhaps a great sturdy bush) in contrast to other herbs, great enough so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.  Birds are quite clearly reminiscent of angels, the messengers of the air who find a home in such a tree.  It's also a picture of a home for ministry, for those who minister, a harbor for the thoughts and teachings and impulses that make for ministry.   Such a seed allowed to grow and expand becomes a place of nurturing for the world in this picture.  Then we come to the parable of the leaven.  Leaven is enzymatic in its work (our word enzyme comes from the Greek word for leaven).  It changes and transforms flour -- making bread more digestible for human beings and changing the consistency of dough.  Just a little leavens the whole and works to transform.  This image of the growth of the Kingdom is a picture of the work of the Kingdom in us or in community; the mysterious changes are those we cannot claim nor control nor dictate, but the outcome is one that is good for us -- at once easy to take in and nourishing.  The transforming effects of leaven create an outcome from the inside out; such is the effect of the Kingdom within ourselves as well, and the work of the Holy Spirit.  To utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world implies the act of Creation; and that which existed before Creation and was and is active both in the creation of the world and the continual life of the world.  (If we look at Genesis and at Revelation, the tense of "create" is ongoing; for example, Revelation 21:5 can more literally be read, "I am always making all things new.")  This secret reality and work is like the hidden enzymatic action of the leaven.  It is hidden from our awareness, but made clear by the outcome suddenly apparent to us.  Christ offers us wisdom and opens the door to mystery through His parables.  The parables themselves hold a key to our understanding -- there are instruments of wisdom hidden in plain sight, couched in words and meaning but available to spiritual eyes and ears, so to speak.  How are we to receive them, or to understand?