SERMON:

A small event can be the beginning of something great or life changing.

A small seed like a mustard seed can grow into a big shrub or tree.

A small amount of yeast can make a delicious loaf of bread.

A small event can be the beginning of change and start to grow into something bigger.

A seemingly insignificant meeting can start a relationship; a casual encounter can be the beginning of the greatest friendship, and an honest heartfelt conversation can be the beginning of a needed and transforming dialogue.

When we look back on our lives, we are often surprised that a small insignificant meeting, a casual encounter, or an honest conversation turned into something much bigger and better and more lasting.

A small seed can grow. Yeast can make dough rise.

Finding a hidden treasure or a fine pearl can change the future. Throwing out an empty net can bring back a full catch of opportunities in your net.

Small can become bigger, better, and bountiful blessings.

For a moment: think about a small seed, a word, or conversation, that was planted in your mind - and that grew to something much bigger and better. A lesson taught by your parents, advice from a good friend. A seed sown that grew and became an integral part of who you are today.

Small can become bigger, better, and unexpected blessings.

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This morning, prior to this virtual service, we celebrated a baptism. We met privately with the proud blessed parents, the loving big brother – to celebrate the joyous baptism of the little girl Channel. Even if we would have loved to have celebrated the baptism as usual before COVID19: at a well-attended Sunday service, with communal prayer and warm welcome, with families in attendance and a delicious lunch to follow, – even if it was a very private small ceremony, the seed that was sown, the faith that was sown, the blessing that was said, - is and was the same – and something that will grow bigger, better and be and become a blessing.

A little girl was blessed and baptized. And a seed of faith was planted for it to grown, be nurtured and bear fruit.

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The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, like yeast, like a treasure hidden, like a fine pearl, like a net thrown into the sea. Today’s Gospel is a beautiful bouquet of stories, of parables told by Jesus. Stories about something small or insignificant that becomes something bigger, better, and incredible significant.

“You are the seed that will grow a new sprout,

you are a star that will shine in the night.

you are the yeast and a small grain of salt,

a beacon to glow in the dark.

You are the dawn that will bring a new day, you are the wheat that will bear golden grain.

You are a sting, a soft gentle touch, to witness wherever you go.”

This is the first verse of the beautiful hymn that we will sing after the sermon. It is a great Spanish Hymn “Sois la semilla” / “You are the Seed.” Of course, I chose it for this service because of the beautiful stories that you just heard from the Gospel. Parables by Jesus about seed, yeast, pearls, and hidden treasures.

The hymn was written by Monsignor Cesario Gabaráin, who was one of the best-known composers of Spanish liturgical music. Born in Spain, Gabaráin completed his basic theological studies and went on to receive degrees in theology, journalism, and musicology from the University of Madrid. As a Catholic parish priest, he was known for his work with youth and especially cyclists, taking so many tours with them that he became known as “priest of the cyclists.”

Gabaráin became one of the most important composers of congregational hymns and songs immediately following the reforms of the Second Vatican Council (1965). Following a tour of 22 cities in the United States in 1990 to conduct workshops, he died of cancer in 1991 at only 55.

The refrain of “You Are the Seed” (“Sois la semilla”) is based on the Great Commission, Matthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you: and I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

The great commission that we also heard this morning at the baptism. The baptismal commission that like a small seed began with the disciples being sent out into the world – and ended with the Church in so many different bodies and denominations all over the world.

In the words of the hymns the refrain says:

“Go, my friends, go to the world,

proclaiming love to all,

messengers of my forgiving peace, eternal love.

Be, my friends, a loyal witness,

from the dead I arose.

“Lo, I’ll be with you forever, till the end of the world.”

The stories of Jesus inspired Gabaráin and has inspired so many hymnal writers to compose and write beautiful hymns that we may sing. The Danish Hymnwriter Grundtvig was masterful in describing faith and hope through images from the beloved Danish nature: the daffodils, the green forest in May, the sunrise at the seashore, or the beautiful nightingale song.

When Jesus told a story, he often painted a beautiful image with his words. The kingdom of heaven is like…. God is like…. Faith is like…. Jesus illustrated his stories with references to ordinary, common, and homely things. Jesus masterfully told stories about ordinary things to explain the extraordinary.

That gift of imagery and storytelling is one of the greatest human gifts.

Most of us probably and hopefully loved when our parents, grandparents or babysitters at nighttime were telling us stories. As a parent, this was something that I loved and cherished - and miss now: those sacred hours of storytelling at night.

As grownups we hopefully never outgrow our childhood love of images and pictures and good stories. Good stories drawn us into good literature, good movies, good theater, and good music.

As children and youngster, we respond well to teaching and learning when stories invites us to create pictures in our minds.

Imagery helps us to grasp that which cannot be explained, quantified, measured, or neatly captured in words, charts, or formulas. With images, we manage to approach what seems difficult or impossible to explain.

The parables of Jesus gives us these rich images as we try to comprehend a God who ultimately is beyond our words, but we know God and recognize God as a good shepherd, a righteous good king, a loving parent, a mighty fortress, or a mother hen with sheltering wings.

In today’s Gospel Jesus offers everyday images that reveal to us the reign of faith and God: a tree that becomes sheltering home, yeast that penetrates and expands, a treasured pearl that brings joy, or a net that gains a great catch.

“You are the flame that will lighten the dark

So resplendent with hope, faith, and love

You are the shepherds to lead the whole world

To water and pastures of peace.

You are the life that will nature the plant

You are the waves in a turbulent sea

Yesterdays yeast is beginning to rise,

a new loaf of bread it will yield. “

These beautiful words of the hymn give us beautiful imagery to try to understand that a small seed, a single flame, a rolling wave, or rising yeast can be the beginning of change, transformation, growth, and blessings.

Small can become bigger, better, and unexpected blessings.

The baptismal blessing and the few drops of water will be the beginning of a blessed life, where faith, hope and love will grow and bear fruit.

The words of the service, - of the hymns, the prayers, the readings, or the sermon – may be seeds sown that will grow and bear fruit in our lives.

Let anyone with ears, listen!

Lord, let our hearts be good soil open to the seed sown, the words said, and the blessings bestowed.

Small can become bigger, better, and unexpected blessing.

AMEN