Mark 4:26-34 English Standard Version
The Parable of the Seed Growing
26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”
33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34 He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
When Jesus came to live and teach among us, it was common for a farmer to sling a bag of seed over his shoulder and to walk through his fields reaching in to the bag and busily scattering handfuls of seed onto the freshly tilled soil.
As Jesus explains the process of the seed sprouting and growing in this parable, we can see that the seed symbolizes the good news of salvation, bringing the potential for new life.
As Paul explains similarly in Romans 1:16, “The gospel . . . is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.”
The gospel is a potent unstoppable force, capable of transforming lives and entire communities. Like seed hidden beneath the surface, its message takes root out-of-sight, deep within the human heart. There it grows and matures, eventually breaking through our soils and yielding a harvest of righteousness.
Luke 12:13-21 New American Standard Bible 1995
Covetousness Denounced
13 Someone [a]in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” 16 And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. 17 And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night [b]your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ 21 So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Hoarding the Gospel seeds – Locking it away in our “Silos”
Rather than hoarding and locking the seeds of the gospel in a silo, we are called to freely, openly and visibly scatter it all generously as we journey through life.
We widely scatter seed by supporting missionaries or mission organizations, volunteering for a church community service project, inviting a neighbor over for coffee, a barbeque, a swim party, and more – a worship service in the park.
We sow gospel seed when we nurture spiritual conversations with our family members and friends, converse with strangers in a grocery store. We sow seed with colleagues at work, at lunch or dinner. When we spread the good news of our Savior Jesus, we participate in the process of bringing forth spiritual fruit.
The Kingdom of God on earth is progressing toward an end. While we don’t fully understand all that goes on, we can be sure that the Kingdom is growing, and when it comes to full maturity, the season of the great harvest will come.
There is movement and there is mystery, but ultimately, there is harvest.
We also need to understand this about the Kingdom: The power of the Kingdom grows, moves and matures and breaks out into the light of day despite our lack of complete, full, understanding of all that is happening in this work of God.
One thing is certain, however; when all things are ready, the harvest will come.
A question for us is whether or not we will be an active or passive part of this movement and mystery and grow as we should, to be ready for harvest time.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God, the Holy Spirit,
Praying …
126 (0) A song of ascents:
(1) When Adonai restored Tziyon’s fortunes,
we thought we were dreaming.
2 Our mouths were full of laughter,
and our tongues shouted for joy.
Among the nations it was said,
“Adonai has done great things for them!”
3 Adonai did do great things with us;
and we are overjoyed.
4 Return our people from exile, Adonai,
as streams fill vadis in the Negev.
5 Those who sow in tears
will reap with cries of joy.
6 He who goes out weeping
as he carries his sack of seed
will come home with cries of joy
as he carries his sheaves of grain.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 