Holyrood Church 715 West 179 Street, Upper West side Manhattan, USA, 212-923-3770

What seeds are we planting today?

Good morning, happy Friday, and many blessings.

 

It is always beautiful to see Jesus, who sought in life and in events new elements and images which could help people to see and experience the presence of the Kingdom. In today’s Gospel, (Mark 4:26-34) once again, He narrates two brief stories which take place every day in the life of all of us: the story of “the seed that grows by itself” and the story of “the small mustard seed which grows into the biggest shrub”.

 

Once again, we learn that Jesus loves images from farming and nature: how simply they show the dynamic of his faith-movement. Give the image some extra time to sink in. Imagine how an un-scientific middle eastern farmer of two thousand years ago was in awe of the wonder of “growth”.

 

First, we have the story of the seed which grows alone. The farmer who plants knows the process: seed, the green sprout, leaf, spike, grain. The farmer knows how to wait. He does not cut down the grain before it is time. But he does not know how the soil, the rain, the sun and the seed have this force or strength to make the plant grow from nothing until it bears fruit. This is how the Kingdom of God is. It is a process. There are stages and moments of growth. It takes place in time. It produces fruit at just the right moment, but nobody knows how to explain its mysterious force - nobody, not even the landlord. Only God!

 

And then we have the story of the small mustard seed which grows and becomes big. The mustard seed is small, but it grows, and at the end the birds make their nests in its branches. This is how the Kingdom is. It begins very small, it grows, and it extends its branches. The parable leaves an open question which will receive a response later on in the Gospel: Who are the birds?

 

Seeds grow when the conditions are right. They need light, heat, and energy. God’s kingdom of love grows slowly and demands patience and faith. In these parables Jesus tells us about how unobtrusive and unnoticeable our growth in the Christian life can be. For this reason, Jesus never ceases to remind us that we must listen and make our own all of the signs of his love in our own lives, in the lives of our family and friends, as well as in all things when seen as gifts.

 

It is interesting that Jesus does not explain the parables. He tells the stories and awakens in others the imagination to reflect on the discovery. What have you discovered in these two parables?

The purpose of these words is to render life transparent. Has your life become more transparent throughout the years, or has the contrary taken place?

 

Any community work depends on a balance between our part of the work and God’s part. One of the important decisions a farmer makes it deciding which seed to plant. What seeds are we planting today? Which seeds are we protesting? By their fruits we shall know them. By our fruits we shall be known.

 

Blessings,

 

Fr. Luis+

Date news: 
Friday, January 29, 2021 - 09:30

Ministry at the time of Coronavirus (Covid 19): Prevent, cure and accompany

Now we have to shape what some have started calling; The Church at Home. Although I keep asking myself; What do those who do not have a home do? For this reason, at the same time, I am declaring today in our Holyrood Church a Lenten day of prayer, fasting and reading the Bible in the Time of the Coronavirus.

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