When Luke recorded in his Gospel Jesus’ parable about the mustard seed, a small seed that would grow into a large tree, the Early Church was still small and developing. Christianity was not yet a recognized religion in the Roman Empire. It was subject to persecution and attacks. However small it still was, the Early Church had still grown considerably compared to the small group of disciples that helped Jesus in his ministry while he was still walking the earth. When these words in the Gospel were written, there was still a lot of hope and confidence that the Church would grow and overcome its setbacks and challenges. I wonder how those first Christians would respond to the Church today. We are so much bigger, so much a part of the fabric of many societies here on earth. The attacks and persecutions may be different than they were in those days of the Early Church, but they are still a reality in our world today. In fact, persecutions and attacks on Christianity and other faiths are probably worse now than they have been in many years. We need to capture a sense of the hope, confidence, and optimism that characterizes this parable, knowing that we can still be dedicated to the truths of our faith in the midst of the secularism and violence against religion that exists in our world today. God is still with us. We have nothing to fear. Being a Christian is more than a label, more that what we call ourselves. Being a Christian is having the faith that we can indeed live a life of faith and a life of discipleship in the world. Back in the first century, St Ignatius of Antioch, Doctor of the Church said this: “It is right, therefore, that we not just be called Christians, but that we actually be Christians.” Let us live our faith boldly and courageously. Let the faith of a mustard seed grow within us.
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