The birds of the air made nests...

"What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches" (Luke 13:18-19).

I've never seen a tiny little mustard seed grow into a tree before. But I understand the perennial marvel of watching seeds turn into seedlings and eventually fruiting plants of one kind or another. Even more marvelous are the myriad "hospitable" relationships between plants and animals.

This potted bamboo that our missionary neighbours set out last year has recently become the home to a new bird family, some Ashy Minivet hatchlings, to be exact. The adults are medium small, black and white, migratory birds. It was only a week or so ago that we discovered the nest and tiny eggs. Hence we have all been very circumspect when passing by, so as not to disturb the new family.

The "tree" is a common biblical image - the tree of life that appears in the Garden of Eden comes up again in Revelation 22. And in that great scene of hospitality found in Genesis 18, Abraham is found at the oaks (or terebinths) of Mamre. In Psalms 1 and 92 and Isaiah 61 the righteous are like trees "planted by streams of water" or "planted in the house of the Lord" that always produce fruit. In Ezekiel 17 and 31 the tree signifies a nation where "every kind of bird will live" under the shade of its branches.

Jesus' teaching on the reign of God Luke 13 and 14 throws us a curve ball. We are to "strive to enter by the narrow door", but we may also find some strange, unexpected birds nesting in nearby branches. And some birds that we thought should be there have all "flown the coop". As Jesus said to one ancient city, "How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" (Luke 13:34)

It's good to know that God's hospitality includes all kinds of people, even someone like myself. --georgos