29 January 2016 - seed scattered and sown

All the images with Bathsheba were rather graphic.

[ Today's Readings ]

The growth of the Kingdom of God is hidden and mysterious.

It is hidden just as everything that goes into the growth of a seed is hidden. The man does not need to understand the detailed biology of plants in order to scatter seeds and yield a harvest.

We often think we need a really in depth understanding of the inner psyche of those to whom we proclaim the gospel. But we really don't. We just need to scatter the seed. God produces the growth.

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth (see 1st Corinthians 3:6-7).

It is hidden in that it starts so small as to be imperceptible. Because it is so small it seems insignificant. Faith often starts so small that it seems like it is too little to make a difference even in an individual problem in an individual life let alone the whole world. But if the seed is allowed to grow it does become big enough. Problems in the individual no longer seem as big as they once did. We are even able to be beneficial to the rest of the world.

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.

We don't need to understand everything. We don't need to control everything. We need to trust in God who supplies the seed and gives the growth.

When we make big mistakes the seed seems insufficient. When we sin as much as David does we might despair of forgiveness.

“She is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam, 
and wife of Joab’s armor bearer Uriah the Hittite.”
Then David sent messengers and took her.
When she came to him, he had relations with her.

...

“Place Uriah up front, where the fighting is fierce.
Then pull back and leave him to be struck down dead.”

But the seed of faith is enough even in the face of our massive failures. It is enough to overcome all obstacles and to eventually restore our relationship with God. So if we think we have messed up too much we haven't. If we know someone whom we believe will never open himself to God's mercy it is by no means certain. Let us plant the seeds in every heart so that God may provide the growth.

Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness;
the bones you have crushed shall rejoice.
Turn away your face from my sins,
and blot out all my guilt.