Mark 4:26-34
This week, many congregations in the Church across the globe will listen for the Spirit's voice in the Gospel according to St. Mark in two parables of Jesus in which planting, harvesting, and growth are featured. "To what can I compare the Kingdom of God?", Jesus asks. It has something to do with the way the earth brings forth fruit on its own, while the farmer is going on about the farmer's own business: sleeping, eating, etc. The next thing the farmer knows, the harvest is ready--having sprung out of the earth, budded, and flowered, all while the farmer was unaware--and he goes in for the gathering immediately. In another short parable that sounds a whole lot like a prophecy of Ezekiel's (17:22-24), Jesus talks about a tiny mustard seed, the huge garden plant that it will turn into, and all of the shelter and sustenance it will end up providing. All from a tiny mustard seed. And that's what we can compare with God's way of doing things. It's what we are praying for when we say,
Thy will be done,
Thy kingdom come,
on Earth as it is in Heaven.
For about three years, I've claimed the first of these two parables as my favorite of all of Jesus' parables. It might be because it's the first one I memorized to tell to a children's Sunday School class, and I mediatated on it intensely for a week and had some great theological discourse that followed with some spiritually astute first through fifth graders (then again, what child do you know that isn't spiritually astute?) Or it might actually be because it is so hopeful. I should say, the Spirit gives me so much hope through this parable.
The Kingdom of God is growing. The Spirit is on the move. Just as the farmer is completely unaware of what is going on just underneath the surface of the soil, oftentimes, we are clueless as to what God is up to, just under the surface of our lives. But like the farmer, we plant, and then we go about our business. And all the while, growth is happening. The seed sprouts, the leaves form, the heads of grain ripen. And before we know it--we've actually been sleeping, eating, and living life, and have missed many of the details--the harvest is ready to be gathered, and immediately (thank you, St. Mark) the farmer puts the scythe to the fields. Mysterious, green hope. Thanks be to God.
For the fruit of all creation,
thanks be to God.
gifts bestowed on every
nation,
thanks be to God.
For the plowing, sowing, reaping,
silent
growth while we are sleeping,
future needs in earth's safekeeping,
thanks
be to God.
In the just reward of labor,
God's will is done.
In the
help we give our neighbor,
God's will is done.
In our worldwide task of
caring
for the hungry and despairing,
in the harvests we are
sharing,
God's will is done.
For the harvests of the Spirit,
thanks
be to God.
For the good we all inherit,
thanks be to God.
For the
wonders that astound us,
for the truths that still confound us,
most of
all that love has found us,
thanks be to God.
Words: Fred Pratt Green
Words © 1970 by Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream, IL
60188.
God: You are,
and You are growing your Kingdom,
and we don't even know it.
Forever sustain us with Your hope,
and fascinate us with Your mystery,
and green us for Your eternal Life.
Praise be to You: Father, Son, and Spirit.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
