Over the past few months, God has come in for a lot of criticism. Even those who have little or no faith have joined in. Why doesn’t God do something? How could your God do this to us? The frustrations of many have been expressed in this way: It must be God’s fault.
When we are not blaming God, we devote a lot of time and effort to finding someone else to blame. After all, if we are being inconvenienced, there must be someone we can blame.
At the moment a lot of people seem to be spending a lot of time and effort, blaming the government, the House of Bishops, even local clergy, for the restrictions that have been imposed in respect of the reopening of churches. Despite the obvious intention of creating an environment where everyone can feel safe as they pray to and worship God, people seem to feel the need to apportion blame.
Today’s reading is particularly apposite to a consideration of the blame culture, because it is about waiting, about being patient. This is difficult for many because in general, people do not like to wait. They are, by nature, impatient. Our modern technological age has led us to expect instantaneous gratification, not a place at the back of a long queue. Our survival of the fittest mentality has taught us that if we shout loud enough, and in a convincingly aggressive manner, we will get our own way.
But Jesus’ response to all of that impatience is direct and unequivocal. Jesus says, No, wait. All will come good in God’s own time.
Jesus speaks of mustard seed, which is incredibly tiny, and yeast. These two, small, ordinary things possessed within them properties that belie their ordinariness. The tiny mustard seed can grow into the largest of trees. The yeast can grow and grow to produce the most wonderful and sustaining bread. But both demand patience, if their full potential is to be realised.
This is just like the kingdom of God, the coming of which we pray for in the Lord’s Prayer.
The nation’s churches are reopening for prayer and worship. Prayer and worship are the primary functions of our churches.
Let us give thanks to God that we have come to this point after months of patient waiting.
Let us learn Jesus’ lesson of patience and forbearance.
Let us set aside the irrelevant and move forward with Christian love and hope in our hearts.
Then we may see that our focussed prayer and worship may flourish, just like the mustard seed and the yeast, in our community, and throughout the world.