“He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’” (Matthew 13:31-32) We close our study of the parables of Matthew 13 with the mustard seed.  It is rather straightforward: the small becomes great: God is at work in the unexpected places.  Perhaps this parable sums up much for us.  Little stories that have the potential to change our world and an unassuming Jewish carpenter who turns out to be Lord of the Universe.  I cannot speak for you, but I am often tempted to go with our culture’s assumptions that big is good and biggest is best!  We are all waiting for big breakthroughs to solve our world’s problems: a cheap form of clean energy; a cure for Alzheimer’s; the end of homelessness and hunger.  And we rightly hope for these things for they would be a great defeat for the powers aligned against our Lord.  But then, there are the parables. What might happen if we began to look for the small victories in the mean time?  The unexpected and unnoticed things that grow into something great; what would happen if we began to pay attention to the small things we do which may lead to the saving of souls and the transformation of the world.  Smile at your neighbor while walking; offer a word of encouragement in the name of Jesus. Let folks know that you care and that God loves them not because of, but usually in spite of what they do (at least that is true in my case).  The old Gospel song says it so well: “Does the place you’re called to labour Seem too small and little known? It is great if God is in it, And He’ll not forget His own. Little is much when God is in it, Labor not for wealth or fame; There’s a crown and you can win it, If you go in Jesus’ name.”  What might happen if you and I took seriously Jesus’ stories?  What would happen if we began to pay greater attention to the small and seemingly unimportant?    Perhaps we might gain a better glimpse of Christ’s work in our midst and be encouraged to believe that the Lord is not finished with us yet.  Have a good week!