The Seed Would Sprout and Grow

The Seed Would Sprout and Grow

11^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mk 4: 26 – 34

Today’s Gospel is about two parables that Jesus said to the crowds – the parable of the seed that is sown on the land and the parable of the mustard seed. These two parables were used by Jesus to explain what the kingdom of God is like. Jesus said: “ This is how it is with the Kingdom of God. “

The first parable talks about a man who went to scatter seed on the land. The seed would sprout and grow and in time yield fruit. Then Jesus narrates the fine details of what seems to be just an ordinary seed growing up. He says: “Of its own accord, the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.”

Jesus seems to focus our attention on the growth process of the seed and underscores the fact that this entire process happens “out of its own accord.” Even the man who sows the seed remains ignorant of how this process takes place.  As Jesus said:  “ (the man) would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how.”

The second parable talks about the mustard seed. Like the first parable, the mustard seed is also sown to the ground. But then Jesus qualifies this, saying that the seed is a small mustard seed, and emphasizes the incredible transformation that the seed undergoes as it grows and matures.  Jesus says:  “ It 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 how are we to understand the Kingdom of God, listening to these parables?  First, we get to understand that the kingdom of God has humble beginnings. It starts small. The two parables somehow emphasize the image of 'smallness' and insignificance. God seems to prefer small beginnings rather than big and grand start-ups. Anything that really comes from God is always marked by humility and insignificance.

Secondly, while the kingdom may start small and insignificant, it doesn’t stay that way in time. Mysteriously and unknown to anyone, the workings of God seem to favor imperceptible growth; growth that may seem slow and goes unnoticed; growth that pushes through despite of the interplay of various elements in the environment. Nonetheless, this slow and almost imperceptible growth is transformative. From the smallness and insignificance of the seed emerges a full grain, a gigantic tree.

This parable should comfort us in someway. The small insignificant acts that we do in our daily lives are the things that matter in the kingdom of God. These small insignificant acts may seem irrelevant to so many and may even be unknown to the world around us. The care and concern that we give to those that we love; the sacrifices we put up so our families could live decent lives; the prayers that we say daily to God to guide and protect us  – all these are just some of the little things that we do that may really matter in God’s kingdom.

            And just like God’s kingdom, these small insignificant things are the ones that lead us to our growth and transformation. Slowly, slowly, God blesses all the efforts, all the love and care, all the little things done in our own way. And without knowing it, our lives are transformed through them. 

And just like the various elements in nature that all contributed to the growth of the seed in our parable, the difficulties and challenges of everyday life all play a role in our growth. Perhaps, these difficulties may shape our growth even more than the good things that happen in our lives.

We have to acknowledge that the small insignificant things we do are those that God blesses. Just like in the parable, it is God who makes small things become big and great. It is God who builds a great kingdom out of the small acts of kindness and love that his people bring to him. Amen.

“O Lord, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes, are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is liked a weaned child that is with me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time on and forever more.”  – Psalm 131