Pastor’s Corner – July 11, 2024
Jesus Told a Parable V
Teachers in Jesus’ time commonly used parables to express ideas. The parable is a story-like form of metaphorical communication. Parables invite reflection and conversation through multi-layered and open-ended interpretation. Parables are a perfect form for God’s Spirit to convey wisdom in both timeless and timely ways. Parables often come with a surprising twist, revealing the way Jesus’ lessons are counter-cultural and counter-intuitive. Jesus told parables to help his followers understand the quality and character of life aligned with God’s values.
In Mark 4:26-29 we find the parable of the growing seed. Jesus also 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.
I invite you to take a spiritual reading of the parable. Read it through a few times slowly and prayerfully. Listen for the connecting points between the parable and your own life experience. Identify an image, word, or phrase that resonates in your spirit. Sit quietly and ask God to open your heart to a truth that you need in this moment in your life.
The phrase, he does not know, resonated with me. The longer I live the more I realize how little I know. It is easy to feel obsolete and of little value in this ever-changing world. This parable reminds me that life is not so much about knowing. Life is more about trusting God who is always at work bringing growth to Divine purposes. We can be part of those purposes at every age and stage, as we trust God and offer the gift God has given each of us.
This is a lesson I glean from this parable of Jesus. How about you? How is the living Spirit of Christ connecting with you through this parable? Feel free to reach out if you would like to share your connecting point.
May the parables of Jesus help us grow in faith and discipleship.
Yours in Christ,
Marc
