SUNDAY- 11^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME -B

I Reading: Ezekiel 17:22-24: Speaking of Israel’s future, Ezekiel pictures God transplanting a tiny spring into new ground where it grows into a mighty cedar.

II Reading: 2Corinthians 5:6-10: Though we make our journey “by faith and not by sight”, we walk with confidence.

Gospel: Mark 4: 26-34: Jesus compares the kingdom to a mustard seed that grows into a mighty tree, but its growth is often as imperceptible as that of a seed hidden in the ground.

The Parable of the Growing Seed: The Growth of Believers, 4:26-29

The three readings of today give us courage to deal with discouragement  in human life. there are two main causes of our loosing heart in Christian life: first, our personal weakness and second, the problems arising within the Christian community.

The common lesson in all the three  readings as follows: the success of the kingdom of God,  both within ourselves and in the world at large, is more God’s work than ours. We should not trust ourselves but place in God our confidence. All that God wants from us is that we try to carry out his will at all times in spite of our weakness.

No one can stop the kingdom of God from spreading. Although the kingdom of God starts from a tiny beginning, it has an enormous potential and power within it to spread. Unless we ourselves prevent it, God’s kingdom keeps on growing within us at all times. To secure our harvest we must do God’s will. The way we do God’s will determine the quality of the harvest which Christ will come to gather when we die. Human no matter how powerful he/she may appear, is very weak; his/her works no matter how great, are doomed to disappear. God’s works remain; so will the work of those who put their trust in the Lord, and not in themselves. God’s wisdom, power and love shine mostly clearly in the way he plants and tends the growth of this kingdom. God’s kingdom will attain maturity when we keep God’s will during life. God has fixed the time of our death with infinite love. He has chosen the most suitable moment to complete our salvation. Let no one discouraged in the work of tending the field of his or her soul. Our harvest is assured.

This parable tells what happens to the fruitful seed in the parable of the Sower or Soils (Mk 4:1-20). It describes how the seed goes about growing, and the process through which it passes. The seed is the Gospel and the ground is the good soil, the believer individually or the church collectively. There are four things said about the fruitful seed once it has taken root, but the major point is that growth is sure; it is inevitable. Once the Gospel has taken root in the heart of a believer, growth will take place. The believer will grow spiritually. This is the great promise of God, the great assurance and confidence, the great hope and encouragement to every believer.

1.     The parable: describes the kingdom (v.26)

2.     The seed is sown by a man (v.26)

3.     The growth is not of man (v.27)

4.     The growth is sure and constant, but gradual (v.28)

5.     The growth is consummated and harvested (v.29)

The Parable of the Mustard Seed: The Growth of God’s Kingdom, 4:30-32

Jesus is describing the growth and greatness of his kingdom, that is, of Christianity. He shows how Christianity begins as the smallest of seeds and grows into the greatest of movements. It is a powerful message to all. The seed of faith begins ever so small in the Baptism and nourishes day by day to the fullness of joy and happiness with the Lord.

Thought: The growth of a tree from a small seed is nothing compared to the growth of a person who truly comes to know Christ nor to the growth of a church that is truly committed to the mission of Christ (John 12: 24).

Thought: The genuine believer (good soil) can rest assured: he is truly God’s child, and God will complete the work of grace in his/her life. The grace of God planted in a person’s heart is unstoppable. The believer’s confidence is in God, not in his/her own flesh and weak efforts. Therefore there is no reason for being down or discouraged, withdrawn and depressed.

Growth requires much patience and trust. Growth is of God, and the believer is to trust and to wait upon God for growth. What an encouragement to believers!

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