He also said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.
 
He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 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."
 
With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples. (Mark 4:26–34 nrsv)

Jesus’s parables are always thought provoking and at times difficult to understand but they always produce a vast amount of interpretation. As I researched different thoughts I found that this particular parable really brings out many interpretations but the one that I most identify with is the basic facts that the sower is Jesus and the seed is his Word and that it is sown in the soil of hearts and through the Holy Spirit it grows and we must share it.

As Jesus said in verse 28: “All by itself the soil produces grain – first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head.” A little sprout appears… little leaves grow… every part matures until it flowers and bears fruit. I believe that God plans to grow us until He finishes what He started in each of us. We can look back on our Christian life and reflect on how we've grown. How different we are now than when our Christian life first sprouted?

At times I have felt that my efforts seem fruitless, but I have come to realize that we never know what life-giving action is happening underground. In this parable Jesus wanted the disciples, and us, to know that what is observable on the surface may not be an accurate measure of the final outcome.

We need to step out of the box in our witness, and spread the good seed—the stuff that can really sprout. I realize that no matter how small the action seems to me that I must share the good news of the gospel, and then let the Holy Spirit enter in.

One particular interpretation of this passage that I read about the seed growing automatically (Mark 4:26) was written by Martin Luther and I think it explains it so well:

Martin Luther “said about this text: ‘After I preach my sermon on Sunday, when I return home, I drink my little glass of Wittenberg beer and I just let the gospel run its course.’

Luther said that after he pounded on the pulpit and expounded the gospel, he would go home and pull out the Sunday newspaper, and pull out his glass of warm Wittenberg beer and start to drink it and enjoy the afternoon.

Luther knew that the power of his sermon was not based on the power of his theological acuity. He knew that the power of his sermon was not based on his eloquence or his abilities. He knew that the power of the sermon would have no effect whatsoever unless the very Word of God got into a person’s heart. Luther knew that he couldn’t do that. It was the Holy Spirit who did that. Luther keenly understood the power of the Word” (Edward Markquart, The Life of Christ: A Study in the Four Gospels).

May His Word continue to grow in us and encourage our witness of the good news to all people.

Contributed by Chris
Monday June 18, 2012
Liturgical Year B: Week 30
Liturgical Color: Green
Sunday Gospel reading:
Lectionary 11 (Proper 6)
Third Sunday after Pentecost