Of its own accord


REFLECTIONS TODAY

Gird your loins

The first part of the parable draws attention to the sower and to the seed, a reality in rural Palestine familiar to Jesus’ original audience composed mostly of peasant farmers. If the sower represents God, then the parable teaches that God knowingly scatters the seed on all types of soil, regardless of the person’s potential in accepting. 


The seed is offered to all. If the sower is Jesus, then the parable underlines the same point: like God, Jesus preaches the word to all and offers to everyone God’s love indiscriminately. 


When the parable focuses on the seed, it assures the audience that God’s word does accomplish its purpose, even if much of it falls on deaf ears or on people unable to understand. 


The seed has an innate power; it grows and matures “of its own accord” (from the Greek automate, having an inner dynamism and power). Isaiah describes the working of God’s word thus, “Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but shall do what pleases me, achieving the end for which I sent it” (55:10-11). Are you into farming or gardening? 
Do you wonder at how nature makes the vegetation grow on its own innate power (automate)? Do you believe in the power of God’s word to touch hearts, despite the inadequacies of the human “sower”?

 

First Reading • Heb 10:32-39 
 

Remember the days past when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a great contest of suffering. At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and affliction; at other times you associated yourselves with those so treated. 


You even joined in the sufferings of those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you had a better and lasting possession. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence; it will have great recompense. You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised. 


For, after just a brief moment, he who is to come shall come; he shall not delay. But my just one shall live by faith, and if he draws back I take no pleasure in him. We are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and will possess life.

 

Gospel • Mark 4:26-34 
 

Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the Kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. 


Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” 


He said, “To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. 


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.” 
With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

 

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.