Mark Ch 4 v 21

So often it’s the little things in life which have the greatest affect, can bring the most joy.      

In the reading we had two parables about seeds

slightly different but both giving a strong message.

The first parable is about the scattering of seed on the land, scattered and left, but whatever the sower does - the seeds sprout and grow, slowly at first but then they flourish and can be harvested.   

The second parable is about a tiny mustard seed, which grows from nothing into a strong bush, so strong that even the birds can perch on its branches.

Out of nothing great things can come, and this applies to our lives.      For it is the everyday, small acts which prepare the way for the kingdom.      We cannot all do world shattering deeds, become famous for our actions, but we can all work diligently  - for far more comes out of our efforts done in faith than we put in.    

I think we are quite good at welcoming people who are new to our church, and it is important that we are.   We do not know why someone is here for the first time, we do not know what difference a welcoming smile will make, and I think that applies as much to visitors to our church hall as to the church.

We all have choices in life, and how we use those choices affects how the seeds of the kingdom are sown.    As Jesus said in the passage ‘scatter seed upon the ground

………..the seed sprouts and grows, although we do not know how.’

Equally we may not know how a seed grows, but we do know we can spoil it, we can give it too little water or too much, and the same applies to faith.    We can either prayerfully give the right nurture, or we can ignore someone so they never come again.     We can feel we have to try and help God, keep enquiring how someone’s faith journey is going, give so much attention that they feel suffocated and they run a mile.    Which is rather like a child digging up a seed to see if it is beginning to grow.   We know what happens then - the seed is damaged and dies.      Planting seeds of faith in someone is no different to planting seeds in the soil, we can plant the seed and nurture it but then we hand them both over to God for the growth we cannot fully understand.      

And this applies to ourselves as well as others, we have to hand ourselves over to God, to trust that the Holy Spirit through the Eucharist will strengthen us and help us to overcome set backs, moments of doubt and fear.     For as the mustard seed grows into a strong bush without us understanding how, so will our faith grow in us and in others  -  God will take care of our souls.

But if we remember the lamp on the stand when we have faith we are called to share it to spread the Gospel.    We have to stand up, and show the light of Jesus to those around us.      If we do not we are like a lamp hidden under a bed we are useless, for a lamp is no benefit to itself it is only good when it brings light into darkness.

We cannot know how much our faith has grown today, or how much we have helped others to grow in faith, but by trying to live our lives as Jesus’ disciples we know we are working towards the kingdom, planting seeds so that God’s kingdom will one day be here on earth.

Amen