"He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, ²⁷and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. ²⁸The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. ²⁹But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.”

He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? ³¹It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; ³²yet 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.”

With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; ³⁴he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples."

 

Have you ever seen a really big tree?

Whenever I see a really big tree I can’t help but think about just how long they’ve been growing – and usually when you see a big one you know it’s been growing a long, long time. Did you know that some Sequoia trees - which can grow up to 350 feet tall - are thought to have lived for more than two thousand years? Isn’t that amazing?! That means that some of the trees we can see today may even have been around at the time of Jesus’ life on Earth.  

The other neat thing about seeing really giant trees is to think that something that big grew from just one tiny seed. One little thing that over time turned into a big thing.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about the kingdom of God. He talks about how it’s kind of like a tiny seed that grows into something much bigger than itself.  

That’s an important lesson for us as Christians. We can never know when our small acts of kindness – lending a helping hand to someone in need or maybe even just sharing a smile – can grow into something very big and important. You might not even know how much your kindness made a difference in someone’s life.

So this week I want you to remember Jesus’ story – and plant the seeds of love and caring. See how many times you can plant a kindness seed this week. Deal?

Let’s pray.

Dear God,

We know that our love and kindness are like seeds that grow in the hearts of those we meet. Help us to spread your love during the week ahead.

Amen