REFLECTION:

In today's Gospel, Jesus asks a very interesting question: “What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it?”

And that got me thinking.

If Jesus were physically walking among us today, in 2026, I wonder what he would compare the Kingdom of God to. Because remember, Jesus often used ordinary things that people were familiar with to explain something extraordinary about God.

In today's Gospel, he uses a mustard seed and yeast. But imagine Jesus standing here today.

Maybe he would say, “The Kingdom of God is like Wi-Fi.” You can't see it, but you know it's there because you experience what it does. And we all know how frustrated we get when there's no Wi-Fi!

Or maybe Jesus would say, “The Kingdom of God is like a group chat.” It starts with one person, then another joins, and another. Before you know it, you have a whole community. Although, knowing some of our group chats, maybe that's not the best comparison!

Or perhaps Jesus would say, “The Kingdom of God is like a viral video.” One person shares it, then another, and suddenly thousands, even millions of people have seen it.

Imagine if love, kindness, forgiveness, and compassion spread as quickly as some of those videos we see online.

But here's what I find interesting. Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed and yeast. Both are small. Both seem insignificant. Yet both have the power to transform something much greater than themselves. And perhaps that's what Jesus wants us to understand.

The Kingdom of God doesn't always grow through extraordinary things. Sometimes it grows through the smallest, most ordinary acts of love.

A simple thank you. A word of encouragement. A willingness to forgive. A little patience with someone who gets on our nerves.

These may seem like little things, but they can make a tremendous difference in someone's life. And this connects beautifully with our first reading, where St. Paul reminds us of Christ's self-giving love.

Love isn't simply something we talk about. It's something we put into action.

But I want to leave you with one thought.

We began with Jesus asking, “What is the Kingdom of God like?” And I wondered what Jesus would compare it to if he were teaching today. But perhaps the more important question is this: Could Jesus point to you and me as an example of what the Kingdom of God looks like?

Could he say:

"The Kingdom of God is like that teacher who patiently helps a struggling student."

"The Kingdom of God is like that husband or wife who continues to love, even when things are difficult."

"The Kingdom of God is like that person who chooses kindness when everyone else chooses judgment."

Because at the end of the day, the Kingdom of God isn't simply something we talk about or wait for. It's something we are called to make visible through the way we live.

So here's our challenge for today: When people encounter us, through our words, our actions, and the way we treat one another, do they get a glimpse of the Kingdom of God? Because sometimes, the greatest way to explain God's Kingdom is simply to live it.