Daily Reflection – 2/1/19
Sacred Scripture
He said, “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. ( Mark 4:26-34)
Reflection
Sometimes I think that our work is a bit like that of the farmer in the parable. We are called to plant seeds. We try and be signposts to God, pointing them in the right direction and then God does everything else. By ourselves we are very limited in what we can do, but the thing is that e do have a part to play. God invites us to be part of his work, helping others along the road to heaven, perhaps by prayer, by example and for a few of us by preaching. But all of us are invited to play a part. For most of us it is a hidden part. I think we often underestimate the importance of praying for others. We speak to them about God mostly by the way we live.
Jesus uses the parable of the mustard seed. It is a tiny seed, but it can grow into something many thousands of times its size. In other words, although we think we are small, we can have a lasting influence on the world around us, even though we may not realize it in our own lifetime. The Church is meant to be small. We are not meant to be big and powerful and we have seen what happens when we get too big and powerful; we forget what we are about and we caught up in prestige and status and our own importance. But when we are small we remain dependent on God and focused on God. That is when God can work through us most effectively because we don’t get in the way. When we are not full of ourselves there is room for God.
Prayer of The Day
Lord, thank you for reminding me that I am an integral part of building your kingdom on earth. Sometimes I think that it should fall to someone else – someone holier, or more learned, or wiser. But you remind me that I am as important to you as each person is. I want to be united with your grace throughout this day and my life. Help me to use this day in such a way that I will be planting your love around me.
Daily Note
Where are you spending your energy? Are you too focused on the big moments, or are you attentive to the small ways that Christ is calling you to serve? Are you planting mustard seeds that will grow into something amazing, or trying to replant cedar trees on a hilltop? This week be attentive to the small parts of your ministry – and get ready to see some Kingdom size results.
