Reflection from Rev Alison Roberts TCMC Reflection 28TH July 2025 Matthew 13:31-35 31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” 33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” 34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.” Reflection The parable is a reminder to us, that our smalls acts of faith matter; they count and contribute to Gods Kingdom. The mustard seed is very tiny but can grow into a large tree where birds can shelter and rest. As you watch the news you too may feel a simmering rage at the continuing injustices in our world where there are a lot of problems. But what can we do? We are nothing special. And we can find ourselves believing it’s pointless our trying to help. That we are inconsequential witnesses who don’t count. It’s easy to be seduced into beleiving that faith-in-action has to be big, and flashy, with celebrities being streamed globally across the world. How can we compete? Surely whatever we do would be so small and go unseen and unnoticed? This is why this parable is so counter-cultural in illustrating for us how our small actions of faith matter by igniting the transformative, unstoppable power of God.… but only if we continue and don’t give up. Prayer is one of the smallest but mightiest things we can do…….. A Meditation for Gaza from the Northumbria Community in France……. Meditation for lament, peace and healing in the Middle East for sacred witnessing lament and silence (To be spoken gently with reverent pauses allowed time between phrases silence is part of the healing.) Begin with the breath Close your eyes Bring your hands to your heart and your belly Breathe in slowly…… and let the breath go You are not alone. With every breath, we enter the deeper presence – the place where the soul sees clearly, where no suffering is hidden, where nothing is forgotten. Breathe again. Let your body soften. Let the grief be safe to rise. Entering the Field of witnesses. In your mind's eye you see a vast open plain – but it is not empty. It is filled with people; Women holding lifeless children. Father's searching for food beneath broken buildings. Boys with open wounds standing in line for aid that never comes Do not look away. You are here as a witness The witness. You are here as a soul who says; see “I see you” Let your heart whisper it now; “I see you.” “I do not turn away.” “I carry your names in me.” Welcoming the lament There may be tears Let them come. There may be anger. Let it burn clean – not to destroy, but to awaken. Let the ache in your chest be your prayer. let your sorrow be your offering. This pain you feel - it is not weakness. It is love refusing to be silenced. A sacred act of holding Now imagine a soft light rising from your Heart - Gentle, golden, unwavering. Let this light reach out….. Surrounding the mothers of Gaza Cradling the children who did not get to grow up. holding the frightened, the forgotten, the fleeing. This light is not political. It is not national. It is soul. Let it flow freely from you - without condition let it say with every breath “you are not abandoned.” “you are not invisible.” “you are part of me.” Enter the silence Now…… there are no more words. Let us go into the deep silence, where God still weeps. Where the truth is not edited. Where love is the only thing left. Remain here in the silence Just breathe. Just witness. Just be with them. (allow 5 to 10 minutes of silence here.) Closing the silence Place one hand on your heart. Whisper quietly; “may my heart remain open.” “made my eyes remain clear.” “may my life be part of the healing.” Bow inward. Then bow outward - to the souls you have held. To the brokenness. To the unyielding hope that still flickers, even in this night. Christian Aid’s prayer for a just peace in the Middle East:God, hear our prayers for peace in the Middle East.May all people in the region be protected,safe from harmWe pray that this crisis will end now, with no further loss of life.God, may the injured and distressed know your healing presence.May the powerful and the decision-makers follow the paths of justice, mercy and peace.we pray for recognition of the dignity and value of every life.May the clamour of violence cease,Replace by the beating of swords into Ploughshares God, in your name, Amem. Common Worship: Collects and Post Communions, material from which is included here, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000
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