e-vo for week of June 13

Dearest e-votees,

Jesus uses figurative language to tease out the nuances of the kingdom of God. This week we have a couple parables about seeds and plant growth. May God bless us all as we receive and share seeds, allow them to germinate and celebrate the growth that only God can accomplish.

Peace,
Karl

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26 He also said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, 27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come." 30 He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 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." 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34 he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

Mark 4:26-34, NRSV

At the beginning of the 4th chapter of Mark Jesus tells a parable about seeds being sowed. After a brief recap of Isaiah 6:9-10 and the purpose of parables Jesus interprets the parable of the sower. The varieties of soils and subsequent growth are different sorts of people and how the word takes root in their lives. The two parables of the seeds assigned for this coming Sunday follow on the heels of the parable of the sower and its interpretation.

The kingdom of God gets seed scattered into our lives. The seed is certainly the word. The seed may also be the witness of faithful lives of parents, baptismal sponsors, friends and perfect strangers. The seed may also be traditions and customs and practices of the faith communities to which we belong. The seed may also be our denominational connections with their particular theological sensibilities. The seed could be whatever God chooses to use to cause the kingdom of God to grow in our lives.

In the parable it is striking that the “someone” who is sowing has no idea how the seeds are sprouting and growing.

God plants seeds in our lives. We don’t know how they sprout or grow. There are some things we can do to that may facilitate the growth: regular watering (returning to and remembering our baptism), fertilizing (put the dead and decaying things into the mix so that God can bring new life out of them—repentance, confession, etc.) and even talking to the plant (drawing near life-giving conversations and teachings—Bible studies, sermons, mutual consolation of the saints). But ultimately, it is not about what we do or do not do but rather what God began and what God brings to completion.

A very favorite Bible verse to me is:

3 I thank my God every time I remember you, 4 constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, 5 because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:3-6, NRSV

God begins a good work and God brings it to completion.

God will also use us to sow seeds into the lives of others. We may well be oblivious to the sprouting and growing but they are certainly accomplishing what God intended -- see Isaiah 55:10-11. The point is not us or how well we cast the seed or how faithfully we watered it and fertilized and verbally coaxed it from the ground. The point is not even if we are aware of the growth going on or not. The point it God begins the work and God brings it to completion.

Lord of the harvest, continue to cast your seeds into our lives and grow them according to your plan. Use us as you wish to accomplish your plans and cast seeds in your name into the lives of others. Help us release our frets and concerns about the crop knowing that you created the seeds to do what you intended. You begin the work and you bring it to completion. In that be glorified.