Letting the Seed Grow

 

Mark 4: 26-34 

The Parable of the Growing Seed

²⁶ He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. ²⁷ Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. ²⁸ All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. ²⁹ As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

³⁰ Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? ³¹ It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. ³² Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

³³ With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. ³⁴ He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

 This simple illustration of seed sprouting almost magically is an apt description of how our faith gradually matures. It has its own rhythm and pattern and eventually bears fruit.  Even the smallest seed reaches maturity.  If we are discouraged or disappointed because of what we perceive as the slow, almost non-existent growth of the seed of faith in our own lives, reflection on these parables might calm us down and put our dissatisfaction to rest.  The seed, the faith, has power of its own, as long as we are not consciously stomping on it to stop its natural process, it will grow.  Letting it grow is already a sign of progress. May we be as patient and confident in the growth of our faith as we are in the growth of a tiny mustard seed. God knows what he is doing.

Bro Rene