“…So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle because the harvest is come.” Mark 4:26-29
My Reflection
In this parable, the kingdom of God is described as being like a man casting seeds into the ground. The seed then grows unattended. First the blade of the new plant appears, then the ear, and lastly the full ear of corn. When the corn is ripe, the man cuts the plant, because the harvest has arrived.
Similar to the Separating the Tares from the Wheat parable, in this story Jesus refers to a coming harvest. Jesus is showing us how humanity parallels the cycles we see all around us in nature. He seems to be comparing humanity to the seeds that have been cast into the ground. I think he is describing the phases of life and the nature of birth, life, and death. We live and grow from infants, as does the blade of the plant; to children, as does the ear of the plant; to adulthood, as does the full corn in the ear. When our season is over, the harvest comes and our bodies, the plant, is cut down. It describes the temporary nature of our physical lives, and also the common harvest that we will all face.
Your Reflection
- Does knowing that we all face a common harvest allow you to look at your fellow man or fellow woman with more empathy?
- How does this impact your ability to look at others with less envy or less pride?