Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.” He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.
The church, the people of God, is always growing. In the first parable we read of a person sowing seeds on the ground who then goes to take a rest and lo and behold the seed sprouts and grows until harvest times when it yields its growth. In the second parable the small mustard seed which, though small, grows into “the greatest of all shrubs” providing shade and a place where birds can make their home.
The Gospel lessons read each Sunday are the “good news” for the day. And the good news for today is reminding us our job is to plant the seeds of God’s love for the world, seeds of kindness and love which God then grows in the hearts and minds of the people. We, at least I, sometimes feel like it is all up to me whether the seed of God’s love grows or does not grow. But note here Jesus clearly says the seed, the Word of God, has power in itself to grow, we are the ones designated to do the harvest.
So, our job is to be sowers God remains the grower! The acts of kindness and love that may look small to us God takes and grows into significant parts of other people’s lives. They, introduced to the truth that they are loved by God, then share this with others. And thus, the church, the people of God continue to grow.
Prayer: Lord use me to grow your love in those who live around me. Amen.
Pastor Jerry
Commentaires