Back to Sermon Index Aloha Spirit, The Parable of the Mustard Plant July 27, 2008 Aloha! Aloha means hello and it also means goodbye. But it means so much more. It is sort of like the Hebrew Shalom, which means both hello and goodbye...but really means peace, wholeness, complete rest & fulfillment. Shalom, Aloha. And Aloha also entails a sense of welcome. That everyone is welcome, and will be treated as a part of the family. In Hawaii they talk about the Aloha spirit, the spirit of welcome, acceptance and warm inclusion in the family. Jesus might have referred to the Aloha spirit when he talked about the kingdom of God and what it is like. What can you compare it too. Jesus taught in parables, which are stories with a purpose or meaning. Each Parable might have more than one meaning, but you must be careful not to push or pull a parable into too many directions...the point is usually pretty obvious. The parable also allows folks to remember...the story can be remembered and repeated...and so the teaching continues. The parable today is the parable of the mustard seed/plant, followed by a second parable of the same meaning...the parable of the net. The mustard seed is used twice in Jesus' teaching. Here in the parable of the mustard plant, and also in the parable of the mustard seed...if you have faith the size of a mustard seed you will move mountains. Today's parable is simple: the mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds in the garden. It is not much bigger than the grain of pepper or salt. But it makes a large plant...which grows to become a tree in the garden under which a person might sit in the shade and into which all kinds of birds come from all over to make their nests. The parable is not exact. The mustard seed is not the smallest seed in the world, nor is the mustard plant the largest. Although, if Jesus lived in California he might have told the story of the Redwood cone...which is usually less than 1 inch long and carries hundreds of seeds the size of pepper...and makes a tree that grows to be the largest and the oldest in the world, a few of still living in California were begun before Jesus' birth 2,000 years ago. The parable of the mustard seed has two meanings. First, size. Size does not matter...ok, now get your minds back in church where they belong. In relation to God, size does not matter. While it is usual for Jesus to involve people in their miracles...where they are asked to exercise some faith-filled action such as going to show themselves to the priests, and as they go they are made well/whole...or going to wash off the mud he put on their eyes in a particular fountain in the city, and when they do their sight is restored...although these faith-filled actions were common as a part of Jesus' miracles, he makes clear that we are to saved by how much faith we are able to muster. Some people cry out to Jesus like the man who came seeking the healing of his young son..."Lord, I believe, help my unbelief." Lord, I trust you, help me overcome my fear! The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed...or a redwood seed...it is very ,very small but grows over time to become a large plant or tree. It is not about the size of our faith, but rather who our faith is in. Not the size of our faith, but the size of our God. If we allow it to become about how much we believe, how great our faith is...then we become the center — not Christ. We know that we are saved not by what we do, not by being religious or faithful or good...but only and completely by the grace of God in Jesus Christ. It is only because he loves us that we are saved at all. Nothing we do earns it and none of us deserve it. If we allow it to become about our faith...then we are in control, not God. The miracle or answer to prayer is not dependent upon the gracious will of God, but rather upon our faithfulness or religious fervor. We earn the miracles by our faith or faithfulness..but that is not how it works. God's answers to prayer are not payment for our belief or worship, but simply come out of his generous and loving Spirit. Size does not matter...remember, it is not about what you do, but about what God has already done. It is not about the size of your faith, but the graciousness of God and his amazing, awesome, and tremendous love and mercy which he lavishes upon us beyond measure. The mustard seed parables remind us that it is not about us, but rather about Christ Jesus. This sets us free from being responsible for God's actions and from a sense of legalism or working for our salvation. The second meaning of the parable comes in Jesus' description of the tree that grows from the smallest seed...that tree provides a place of rest and comfort for us and becomes the home for all kinds of birds to perch, eat and nest. "Birds from all over come to make their nest in it". These birds symbolize people coming to the kingdom of God...as a result of our faith. The Church is the mustard plant, grown from the seeds of faith of its members...and it is a place of welcome for all. It is a place of Aloha, where everyone is welcomed into the family of faith, where they find a place of rest, security and spiritual nourishment. The church grows out of the simple love and trust of its members and it is supposed to be a haven for all...but especially for sinners. The church is to be home to people from every ethnic background, social stratus, cultural and life background. Do alcoholics feel welcome there? Are they? Do homeless, board and care residents? Do people who's first language is not English feel welcomed and cared for? Do we make a place in our worship for those who are new to the faith and don't have the same background and experience to understand the "church" language and practices? Do children feel welcome and made to feel like they count and are important? Do we make room for the youth with the different clothes or hair style/color? Do we not just welcome them, but to go out of our way to make them feel warmly welcomed? The image of the great tree with many branches filled with all kinds of birds, each with different colored feathers and each singing a different song, but all their voices and colors joining together to make a beautiful sight and sound, bringing glory to God. This is the image of the mustard seed plant. This is God's house, God's tree...all are welcome. This is the Aloha Spirit; more than just hello and goodbye, but welcome, come on in and feel at home...you are one of us. Be at peace, you have found a home for your heart. Welcome, Aloha. Jesus is waiting to meet you here. Aloha, come on in. Back to Sermon Index