Of its own accord the land yields fruit,
first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
Although we can try to create good conditions for growth, we cannot directly bring it about through our efforts. We want to ensure, as much as possible, that the soil is good and deep, that there aren't too many rocks or thorns to interfere. We can, perhaps, water it and fertilize it. But beyond that, anything we do is more likely to interfere with growth than to assist it. We have to, at least in some measure, leave it alone and trust in God's process and timing. There is an implication that, if we forget this, we will be distressed by the fact that much of spiritual progress is unseen and hidden, and that this will prompt us to take actions that are unhelpful or even harmful. When we don't get results on demand we will be forced to reckon with the reality that it isn't all up to us. We must learn to do the things we know to do and then surrender the whole project into the hands of God.
It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground,
is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.
The Kingdom itself, when still a seed, seemed unlikely to grow enough to realize all of the covenant promises of God. Jesus, the grain of wheat that died to give life, did not seem sufficient to address the major challenges that faced humanity in general or Israel in particular. Neither did his disciples or the results of their early work seem so impressive that anyone could have anticipated the fruit they would bear in the future. The implication of this parable is somewhat similar to the previous one. We should not be discouraged by the way things look early on. But the nuance is different. We should not be afraid to attempt things, even if they are small. We cannot predict the way little things done with love may one day change the world. This is a call to excellence in small matters. But a corollary is that we ought to stop problematic behavior will it is still small, and sin while it is still venial.
At the turn of the year, when kings go out on campaign,
David sent out Joab along with his officers
and the army of Israel,
and they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah.
David, however, remained in Jerusalem.
David's failure to go with army, as was expected of kings, started off as something that seemed small. But it gradually snowballed as he next failed to keep custody of his eyes in the presence of Bathsheba and from their went on to become an adulterer and a murderer. It is fortunate for him and for us that the good seed of the Kingdom was ultimately God's project, else those events cause us to imagine that the project had failed. But the seed was still there, growing, as David proved later through his heartfelt repentance.
So, in summary, the lessons are, 1) never give up because of how things look, 2) don't neglect good things just because they seem too small to make an impact, and 3) don't dally with sin, even if it appears relatively innocuous at first. The payoff of faithful is small things is too good to miss.
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
The largest of plants that puts forth its branches for is the Church, which provides shelter for all the birds of the world, including ourselves. But in mysterious ways, everything done with love and faithfulness helps to facilitate the growth, as we ourselves become branches on the vine, living stones in the sacred temple of the Body of Christ.
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