Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the Kingdom of God; it
is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night
and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord
the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in
the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the
harvest has come.”
He said, “To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God, or what parable
can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the
ground, 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
that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” With many such parables he
spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he
did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in
private.
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Reflection:
The story is told about a woman who would habitually share inspirational
and wisdom filled bible verses to his friends. He uses every means available to
share it such as through facebook and other social media platforms. Regardless
if he would get a reply of appreciation or not he would always send it to them.
One day, she met by chance one of those friends who regularly read her
inspirational bible verses. Her friend told her this: “Thank you for the daily
inspirational bible verses that you’ve been tirelessly sending me, you’ve been
planting the seeds of God’s kingdom in my heart. It gives me hope and it
strengthens my faith in Jesus.”
In today’s gospel Jesus made use of two comparisons to describe the
kingdom of God: the man who scattered seed and the mustard seed that became a
great tree. Both seeds grew fruitfully and became useful, the scattered seed
grew and was usefully harvested. The small mustard seed that was sown became
big and had large branches where birds dwelt in its shade.
Let us think about and ask ourselves if we have planted seeds of faith,
goodness and humility in the hearts of our fellowmen. Let us think about and
ask ourselves if we have planted the seed of Jesus in their hearts. So that it
may also grow within them and become as big as the mustard seed where others
could benefit from it.
Let us also think and reflect if we have already sown/scattered the seeds
of forgiveness, mercy and love in the hearts of our fellowmen. So that it could
grow and multiply in their hearts too so that they too could also sow the seeds
of forgiveness, mercy and love to those around them.
We might have not have sown anything yet that will grow and bear much
fruit in their hearts. Lest we forget that one of our foremost Baptismal
mission as Christians is to scatter and plant the seeds of Jesus and our faith
by sharing and living it.
Have you already done something to sow the seeds of Jesus words and
teachings in the hearts of your fellowmen? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
