Matthew 13
Christians worry about the future of the Church. More and more Christians turn indifferent to faith and morals. Although the Western world proudly declares inclusiveness and pluralism for its social principles, it is commonly accepted to express disdain and hostility towards Christianity.
Do I worry about the Church, too? Yes. I feel helpless. I don’t know what the Church will be like after the pandemic is gone away. Christians will come back to gather together for worship? Or will they have settled down with alternative ways of spiritual life without gathering for worship? I don’t know.
The Church reveals the visible presence of the kingdom of heaven. Neither the Church nor the kingdom of heaven is simply the sum of all individual Christians or churches. Although the Holy Spirit, angels and saints are invisible, they are with us in the Church. The Church or the kingdom of heaven is not only earthly but also heavenly. Moreover, the Church is not a human institution. The Church is the mystical body of Christ, for it is in union with Christ. Jesus assured his disciples that he would be with us until the end of time. Then, his mystical body should also exist on earth until the end of the world.
Today, Jesus gives us two short parables of the kingdom of heaven. These parables teach us the growth and expansion of the kingdom of heaven. We might be tempted to abstract the mechanism of the growth and expansion of the Church from these parables. But I think these parables show the mystery of the growth and expansion of the Church instead. It takes so long time for a mustard seed to grow to a big tree. It is beyond the power and control of the sower of the seed or the owner of the field. A woman knows how to mix the yeast in with the flour. But it is not she who makes the dough all leavened. It is the nature of yeast.
Over two thousand years there were many Christians who contributed to the growth of the Church. However, the growth of the Church was not determined by one great saint’s vision or plan. The Church went through so many crises we might not be able to evaluate their seriousness now. But she survived till now. Reflections on history will remind us of who works in the Church.
I am still worried about the Church. This worry will make me do something about the future of the Church. I pray that this small act of care for the Church may contribute to her health. I pray that our Lord may take me as an instrument for keeping his tree flourishing.
