Gospel: Mark 4:26-34
26 He also said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, 27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.’
30 He also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 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.’
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 except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.
Already but not yet!
St. Mark consecrates chapter four of his gospel with Jesus teaching in parables. Mark 4:33-34 "With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.” Notice "as much as they could understand.” When He was alone with His own disciples, He explained everything.
The preceding parable in Mark 4:3-9 about the farmer and the seeds illustrates the four kinds of faithful.
Those who are similar to the seeds which fell along the path and were eaten by the birds.
Those on rocky areas, - no soil, no roots.
Others sown among thorns, the worries and deceitfulness of wealth makes them unfruitful.
Those sown in good soil that hear the word, accept it and produce a precious and abundant crop..." They are those who sow in tears and shall reap with shouts in joy". Psalm 126;5,
Jesus describes how humans may or may not receive God's word and live it according to their will and aims. The seed coming from God is available and accessible to every one, but it depends upon the person as to whether they receive or refuse it.
Then Jesus speaks about God's grace operating in the faithful's life. The faithful who is similar to the good soil has God's energetic and efficient presence within her/his own personal life.
Trusting God, listening to His word, relying on His wisdom and inspired by His guiding light, the core of a faithful heart and mind is formed. God, present within her/him, sows the seed, cares for its continuing growth, waters it, and fills it with delightful, ripe fruits. Faith grows thanks to God's presence and nonstop action.
The parable of the mustard seed teaches us more about God's intervention in our lives when we accept Him as Master and Lord. The kingdom is Jesus’s presence and action in our inner being. It is where and how Jesus is. Like the mustard seed planted in the good soil, Jesus is actively present, ensuring good growth and preparing us for expected delicious fruits. This means that the faithful are already in the kingdom, but not yet fulfilled because we expect the fruits to be ripe and the harvest to come at the end of ages. God’s presence is how the seeds continue to grow individually and in church communities, by promising they will become big trees where plenty of birds may find shade and protection.
St. Paul describes the grace of Jesus living within the faithful as the fulfilment of His discipleship and witness. “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20.
God's love is proposed to us every day, and every day we are invited to respond by choosing what sort of soil our soul could be. We decide how to respond to God's love and proposals. When we reciprocate His love, we are similar to the mustard seed that starts very small but keeps growing according to God's plan.
Accepting God's presence and trusting in His loving care makes us members in His kingdom - where we can live thanks to Jesus’s love and life within us. We are invited to think about the personal character of our faith, what sort of soil am I today? Did the seed fall on me as on a path? or on rocky soil? or among the thorns? or on good soil where God's presence and grace keep me growing with trust, faithful commitment and good witness to His love and presence?
Seek the Kingdom first, and the rest will be given to you. Seek Jesus and grow with Him present in your hearts and minds. The Kingdom of God is already in our hearts, but not yet fulfilled. Together, let us grow with Him and, with Him, offer the best ripe fruits of a good witness!
Father Kamal June 13, 2021