Reflection for Sunday June 16, Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 4:26-34

Gospel: Mark 4:26-34

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:

A woman would habitually share inspirational and wisdom-filled Bible verses to her friends thru Facebook and other social media platforms. Regardless of whether she received a reply of appreciation or not, she would always send them.

One day, she met by chance one of those friends who regularly read her inspirational Bible verses. Her friend told her, "Thank you for the daily inspirational 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 to move forward and it strengthens my faith in Jesus.

In the Gospel, Jesus used 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 and became useful. The scattered seed grew and was harvested, while 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 others. Let us reflect on whether 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 on whether we have already sown or scattered the seeds of forgiveness, mercy, and love, so that they could grow and multiply in the hearts of others. Hence, they too could sow the seeds of forgiveness, mercy, and love to those around them.

Have you already done something to sow the seeds of Jesus' words and teachings? – Marino J. Dasmarinas