27-Jan-17

Gospel MK 4:26-34
Jesus said to the crowds:
"This is how it is with the Kingdom of God;
it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land
and would sleep and rise night and day
and the seed would sprout and grow,
he knows not how.
Of its own accord the land yields fruit,
first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once,
for the harvest has come."
He said,
"To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God,
or what parable can we use for it?
It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground,
is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.
But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants
and puts forth large branches,
so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade."
With many such parables
he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.
Without parables he did not speak to them,
but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.
Reflection:
Jesus said to the crowds:
"This is how it is with the Kingdom of God;
it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land
and would sleep and rise night and day
and the seed would sprout and grow,
he knows not how."
Is this not the way it is with our own lives?
We scatter the seeds of our desires and hopes, asking God to guide us toward His will. But, we do not know God's will with any certainty. Like the man who scatters seed, we also "sleep and rise night and day," going forward in faith, not in knowledge.
"Of its own accord the land yields fruit,
first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once,
for the harvest has come."
In the same way, the path of our life opens before us.
Life "yields" its fruits as we move through the seasons. From seed we spring forth, then comes the "blade" of our youth, to the full grain of rebirth in the Spirit, to the the ripeness of old age.
Finally, we yield to God's call and become part of His great harvest.
He said,
"To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God,
or what parable can we use for it?
It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground,
is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.
But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants
and puts forth large branches,
so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.
Jesus asks, "To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God?"
Our only reference to the Kingdom of God is love.
Jesus told us, "Love one another as I have loved you."
When the world is filled with love, then and only then, will God's Kingdom come and His will be done.
"The world is changed by your example not by your opinion." - - Paulo Coelho