Good day dear friends. Please be in prayer for The Rev. Virgilio Vasquez-Garza, who undergoes eye surgery this morning in San Antonio. Pray that the operation go well and that his recovery is quick and complete. Rev. Vasquez Garza is the Assistant to the Episcopal Office. Pray that God's patience be with his wife, Acacia.
Our text for today comes from the Gospel of Mark 4: 26 He also said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, 27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come." 30 He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34 he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples. (NRSV)
I love time-lapse photography films. I love the one where a bean is placed in a cup, water and then right before our eyes we see a tiny sprout come out at first, then it becomes a fully-grown plant, all in a matter of seconds. Yes, the film or video of such events, records the events as they happened in a process, much like the actual growth of that plant, that I do not fully understand. Time-lapse photography places right into our hurry up mentality of today. Not so with the Kingdom of God. Jesus tells this story about our need to plant everywhere the good news of God's love and power to transform. The key is our willingness to go and just share as we should. Every effort to share this message, however small we may think it is, will yield the harvest that I believe is ready for the harvesting. We let our self-doubts hinder our work or we think we don't have the words or the ability or the strength to do anything. Jesus' message is our encouragement to truly go and do the work of God.
The kingdom of God is about reaching people and not worrying about whether we care for ourselves or not. Too many churches are filled with people who only care if their needs are being met and not about the countless people who are being lost. Those churches that close or are close to closing are those who never spread the "seed" of God's love and transforming power anywhere. They hoped that their children would automatically continue the "work" of the church (not God) and are surprised when some of their children get their lives transformed in other churches and start actively serving God beyond where they were raised. Parents have to share the seeds of faith with their children and should live a life that demonstrates a life that pleases God. The mustard seed is at your disposal and ready for planting in your garden; what are you going to do about it?
PRAYER: Loving God, I and those who make this prayer their own, pray for the faith and boldness to take even mustard seed steps in sharing and living the life of faith that Christ expects from me. Let it be scattered in all places so that with Your power and plan, many may come to know You. Forgive me the times I have cared only about myself and my needs, and allow me new opportunities to truly live a life that blesses You and Your kingdom. I pray this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
