Second Sunday after Pentecost
June 14, 2009
The Gospel: Mark 4:26-34
Sermon: "Mustard Seed"
The Rev. Dr. Vicki L. Smith, Rector
The Gospel: Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But 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? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 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."
With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.Mark 4:26-34
Mustard Seed Second Sunday after Pentecost - June 14, 2000
People always want to know the future. For centuries we have sought out psychics, astrologers and anyone else who claims to read the stars, tea leaves, even animal entrails. Scientists read genetics, hoping to identify our future health or illness; some Christians read the book of Revelation and attach dates and times to it—all in an effort to predict the future. Especially in times of uncertainty like ours, we seek out any way we can find to predict the future; to know what’s coming down the pike for us.
But we Christians aren’t in the prediction business; we’re in the vision business and that is very different. Jesus’ parables that we heard this morning give us a vision of our future—a vision of assurance and hope that we can trust. Jesus says that the kingdom of God, which is our future, is as if a sower would scatter seed on the ground and sleep night and day, and the seed sprouts, he does not know how. He also says that the kingdom of God, again our future, is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of seeds, but when sown on the ground, grows into the greatest of shrubs, putting forth large branches, big enough for birds to nest in. There’s a mustard seed in your bulletin this morning to give you an idea of just how small those seeds are. The seeds are indeed tiny, but the resulting plant grows huge.
Those descriptions of God’s kingdom are our visions of our future. It is our task to discern the specifics of that vision in our day and time, but we have been given the vision: the smallest of seeds growing into the greatest of shrubs. Seeds that are perhaps scruffy and unimpressive nonetheless contain tremendous potential; seeds that are scattered and sown, will grow and flourish, we aren’t even sure how. That is God’s vision of our future.
It is a vision that gives us hope and excitement for the days to come. We must discern the specifics for St Thomas church, but we know that God’s future holds for us growth and harvest, out of all proportion to the seeds we sow. From the tiniest of seeds, God promises to grow a mighty shrub.
So what is our role in fulfillment of the vision, for certainly we do have a role? Our first task is to discern what seeds to sow in this time and place, for our parish and our community. It is our task to listen to God, to pray and study, to discuss and think, and ultimately to discern what seeds God is calling us to sow right now. Are we called to sow seeds of community service? Are we called to sow seeds of an after school program, a bowling league, tutoring or English as a second language? Are we to sow seeds of ministry with teens, the unemployed or the homeless? Are we to sow seeds of reading groups, Bible studies, or worship in the park? Are we to sow seeds of care for children, special music and drama or healthy eating? It is our task to prayerfully discern who God is calling us to be as St Thomas church in Reidsville North Carolina in 2009, 2010, 2015 and beyond. Like the mustard seed, the seeds we sow may be small but they will contain the potential to grow and flourish because that is God’s vision for us.
Our second task of living into God’s vision is to be willing to actually sow those seeds. We have to be willing to try, to take risks, maybe even to change. The biggest obstacles to growing God’s kingdom are the phrases: we’ve never done that before and we tried that, it didn’t work. To live into God’s vision for us, we must be willing to try again, and try anew. And we can take risks because we have the assurance of the mustard seed. Undoubtedly all the seeds we sow won’t grow and flourish, but some will, and God’s kingdom in this place will be greater and stronger for it.
Our third task of living into God’s vision for this parish is to trust in God to give the growth and therefore get out of the way. I’m afraid that all too often, we stomp on the new little plants of the kingdom because they scare us, or they’re different, or we don’t recognize them or they look like weeds. If we with faith sow seeds of the kingdom, God will give them growth. Even the smallest of seeds can grow into something wonderful.
We are the ones who scatter the seed, in the name of God and of St. Thomas church. We scatter seeds of worship, service and education. We scatter seeds of devotion and commitment, seeds of new ideas, new challenges and new responses; we scatter seeds of care and compassion. We are called to discern, with God’s help, what seeds to sow now, in this church and community. We ask for the courage to scatter new seeds and the sense to let them grow. And we ask God’s blessing on those seeds, that his kingdom in this place may grow like the mustard seed, from the smallest of seeds to the greatest of shrubs.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen