Sunday 14 June 2009
- Bible Book:
- Mark
"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' ... 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'." (v.26-27, 30-32)
Background
These parables about seeds and growth are one of the ways inwhich Jesus talks about the 'kingdom of God', a phrase we findoften in his teaching. It is the expression he uses to talk aboutthings being completely the way God intends. The kingdom is presentalready in Jesus' ministry and will come one day tofulfilment.
Jesus is aware that the signs of the kingdom in the present aresmall (like little seeds); but that one day the community Godintends, where the poor are lifted up and the outsiders are broughtin, will spread like a great tree.
The theme this week is 'Suffering and Conflict' and today is thestart of RefugeeWeek: a time to remember all who have been forced to flee fromtheir homes.
Surely it is a sign of the kingdom when refugees are treated withdignity and respect and are made welcome in a new place, like thebirds sheltering in the welcoming branches of the mustard tree.
To Ponder
In the first part of today's reading, the farmerwaits for the seed to grow. Do you think it is possible, despiteall that is dreadfully wrong in the world, to live in trust thatthe kingdom will come and there will be justice for all? Why?
Do you really want a community where all arewelcome? How far, if you are honest, are some of your lesshonourable instincts more excluding than including?