ACC ~ Luke 13 v18 - 21

OVERVIEW:

The kingdom of God is compared with a mustard seed because the agricultural imagery of a seed that is sown and grows is a perfect description of how faith grows (PETER CHRYSOLOGUS). In Matthew, the mustard seed is compared with faith that can move mountains, and if the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, then faith is as a grain of mustard seed (AMBROSE). Like the humble seed planted in the ground, Christ’s humility is expressed in his birth of a woman and his burial into the bosom of the earth. Like the mighty tree that ascends into the heavens, Christ’s exaltation comes from his resurrection and ascension (MAXIMUS OF TURIN).

The disciples were warned not to succumb to the evil leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy, [1] but instead the crowds are to perceive the divine leaven of Jesus that works in us through the Word of God (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA). His teaching and miracles are signs that the kingdom of God is already a present reality, although they may seem small, insignificant and hidden. The doctrine of Christ is leaven because the bread is Christ (AMBROSE). This yeast of Christ the church spreads throughout the world, announcing that the great victory of liberation over Satan is already present in Jesus and that the scope of that victory one day will be fully revealed (BEDE).

[1] Lk 12:1.

13:18-19 | The Kingdom of God Is Like a Mustard Seed

HOW THE KINGDOM IS LIKE A MUSTARD SEED

PETER CHRYSOLOGUS: As the text says, the kingdom of God is like a grain of mustard seed, because the kingdom is brought by a word from heaven. It is received through hearing and sown by faith. It takes root through belief and grows by hope. It is diffused by profession, and it expands through virtue. It is spread out into branches. To these branches, it invites the birds of heaven, the powers of spiritual insight. In those branches, it receives them in a peaceful abode. SERMON 98. [1]

[1] FC 17:158*.

THE MUSTARD SEED IS COMPARED WITH FAITH AND THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

AMBROSE: If the kingdom of heaven is as a grain of mustard seed, and faith is as a grain of mustard seed, surely faith is the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of heaven is faith. One who has faith has the kingdom. The kingdom and faith is among us. We read, “The kingdom of heaven is within you,” [1] and “Have faith in yourselves.” [2] Peter, who had all faith, received the keys of the kingdom of heaven to unlock it also for others. [3] EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 7.177. [4]

[1] Lk 17:21.

[2] Mk 11:12.

[3] See Mt 16:9.

[4] EHG 303**.

CHRIST IS LIKE THE MUSTARD SEED

MAXIMUS OF TURIN: There is written in these words of the Lord, “Someone took and threw it into his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of heaven roosted in its branches.” Let us look more closely to find out to whom all these things pertain. We said before that the nature of mustard might resemble the holy martyrs because they are rubbed by different sufferings. Since Scripture says, “And it grew and became a tree, and the birds of heaven roosted in its branches,” I think that this is more properly compared to the Lord Christ himself. Born a man, he was humbled like a seed and in ascending to heaven was exalted like a tree. It is clear that Christ is a seed when he suffers and a tree when he rises. He is a seed when he endures hunger and a tree when he satisfies five thousand men with five loaves. In the one case, he endures barrenness in his human condition, in the other he bestows fullness by his divinity. I would say that the Lord is a seed when he is beaten, scorned and cursed, but a tree when he enlightens the blind, raises the dead and forgives sins. In the Gospel, he says that he is a seed: “Unless the grain of wheat, falling upon the earth, dies.” [1] SERMON 25.2. [2]

[1] Jn 12:24.

[2] ACW 50:61-62**.

13:20-21 | The Kingdom of God Is Like Leaven

THE WORD OPERATES IN US LIKE LEAVEN

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The leaven is small in quantity, yet it immediately seizes the whole mass and quickly communicates its own properties to it. The Word of God operates in us in a similar manner. When it is admitted within us, it makes us holy and without blame. By pervading our mind and heart, it makes us spiritual. Paul says, “Our whole body and spirit and soul may be kept blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” [1] The God of all clearly shows that the divine Word is poured out even into the depth of our understanding. …

We receive the rational and divine leaven in our mind. We understand that by this precious, holy and pure leaven, we may be found spiritually unleavened and have none of the wickedness of the world, but rather be pure, holy partakers of Christ. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 96. [2]

[1] 1 Thess 5:23.

[2] CGSL 395**.

CHRIST IS HIDDEN IN THE CHURCH

AMBROSE: The grain of wheat is Christ, because he was spiritual leaven for us, and many think that Christ is the leaven that enlivens the virtue which we have received. Since the leaven in the flour surpassed its own kind in strength and not in appearance, Christ was preeminent among the fathers, equal in body, incomparable in divinity. The holy church is prefigured in the woman in the Gospel. We are her flour, and she hides the Lord Jesus in the inner parts of our mind until the radiance of heavenly wisdom envelopes the secret places of our spirit. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 7.187. [1]

[1] EHG 307**.

THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST IS LEAVEN

AMBROSE: There are three measures: of the flesh, of the soul and of the spirit. This is truer of the spirit in which we all live. … The woman, who prefigures the church, mixes with them the virtue of spiritual doctrine, until the whole hidden inner person of the heart [1] is leavened and the heavenly bread arises to grace. [2] The doctrine of Christ is fittingly called leaven, because the bread is Christ. The apostle said, “For we, being many, are one bread, one body.” [3] Leavening happens when the flesh does not lust against the Spirit, nor the Spirit against the flesh. [4] We mortify the deeds of the flesh, [5] and the soul, aware that through the breath of God it has received the breath of life, shuns the earthly germs of worldly needs. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 7.191-92. [6]

[1] See 1 Pet 3:4.

[2] Jn 6:31.

[3] 1 Cor 10:17.

[4] Gal 5:17.

[5] See Rom 8:13.

[6] EHG 309-10**.

THE CHURCH SPREADS LEAVEN

BEDE: A woman took some yeast when the church, by the Lord’s generosity, secured the energy of love and faith from on high. She hid this in three measures of flour until the whole batch was leavened. She did this when she performed her ministry of imparting the word of life to parts of Asia Minor, Europe and Africa, until all the ends of the world were on fire with love for the heavenly kingdom. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 2.13. [1]

[1] CS 111:120.