After all our efforts to reach adulthood, we may be surprised to realize at some point well into our adulthood that we still need to grow up. Perhaps our patience or self-control is still immature, or our capacity to forgive or the courage to take a stand needs growing. Different aspects of our soul mature at different rates, depending on which challenges present themselves to us and how willing we are to respond.

Each of our capacities reflects an aspect of the image of God in us and our ability to reflect God’s character as seen in Christ. This imago dei is like a seed, capable of slow and steady growth until the Spirit of Christ pervades our whole self, just as leaven suffuses the whole loaf of rising bread.

The images of growth Jesus uses to describe the presence of God’s rule among us point to both inner soul and outer community. The kingdom is “within” and “in your midst” (Luke 17:21, kjv, niv). The seed of Christ develops organically, nurtured by our choices for the good and the gift of God’s grace rather than by rigid rule-keeping. Christ’s “commandments” are challenges to live into, not rules to live up to. Discipleship is an adventure of discovery about ourselves as partners with Christ in the world.

Even “love your neighbor as yourself” contains a lifetime program of learning because there are so many kinds of neighbors, including the outcast, the stranger, and even the opponent. Seen as a gradual process rather than a pass/fail test, even our sinful mistakes can become grist for the mill, chances to learn. These parables are invitations to trust that grace can help us grow up, all the way to our capacity to be Christlike.