Memorial of St. John Bosco, Priest
I’m pretty much the only one in our house who uses mustard, and even so, I really only put it on hotdogs, brats, and burgers–and not without ketchup and relish to go with it. Our kids pretty much unanimously oppose the use of mustard for any reason minus Cecilia, who, on occasion, will randomly state that she wants it on her hotdog. Therefore, you might find it quite ironic that one of our favorite meals in the house is a dish called Chicken Dijon (though the true mustard flavor is heavily masked by lots of butter and breadcrumbs, and baked deep into the chicken at 350 degrees). Strange people we are in the Meyer household. Nonetheless, Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed in today’s gospel is a compelling example for our understanding of faith.
When it is sown in the ground,
[it] is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.
But once it is sown,
It springs up and becomes the largest of plants
And puts forth large branches,
So that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade. (Mk 4:31-32)
It’s the little things that matter. I can’t help but think of the saying that sometimes big things come in small packages. A mustard seed is tiny, seemingly insignificant. But once planted, nurtured, and fed, it grows exponentially, produces fruit, offers shade, and provides a dwelling place for birds. So it is for our faith, for our relationships with God and with others. LeeAnn and I feel that we have a solid marriage and for that we are incredibly thankful. It isn’t just a natural occurrence–we commit to and invest daily in humility, patience, understanding, and so much more while also recognizing that sometimes we screw up and get it wrong as well. Our relationship is rooted in the attentiveness to all of the little things. And while individually, the mundane pieces of being in a relationship don’t seem to matter that much, the totality of all of the small things become the foundation on which we stand together.
Dorothy Day wrote, “Most of our life is unimportant, filled with trivial things from morning till night. But when it is transformed by love, it is of interest even to the angels.” Last weekend, we asked the kids who they thought was the most joyful person in our family. They quickly identified Dorothy (our 10-month-old), without question, to be honored with this title. Anyone who has met Dorothy quickly recognizes her infectious smile and ability to make you feel seen, heard, and loved. The verse before the gospel today reads “Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.” (Mt 11:25). Like the mustard seed, she is the smallest one in our family, but perhaps she has the revelation that most of us so desperately need, and the rest of our kids have figured that out. Dorothy continues to sow seeds of love and joy daily. May we dwell in those branches.
Peace,
Brandon Meyer