Fr Paul Gooley reads from the Gospel of Matthew (13: 31-35) in which Jesus tells the parables of the mustard seed and the yeast.

Fr Paul says one way of coming to a better understanding of the parables is to seek out the circumstances in which Jesus might have told them, and then we might discover the purpose he had in telling them.

These two parables of the mustard seed and the wheat are both stories of growth.

The mustard seed is especially astonishing, for the seed is little more than a grain of dust, which can grow in a single year into a six-foot shrub. The idea of the birds sheltering in its branches might be a slight exaggeration though. The smallest of birds would have trouble finding some shade.

Anyone who has done some baking would know the astonishing effect of a pinch of yeast can have in baking.

By using the theme of growth, Jesus was saying to those listening to be patient. Yes, I have sowed the kingdom of God in this small group and, yes, we are a small group now but things will grow and they did. Today there are over a billion Christians in the world.

Fr Paul says this Gospel of growth gives us cause to reflect on this question, 'What am I doing to help grow the kingdom of God?'