Mk 4:26-34 Heaven's seeds

Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
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Jesus 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."

The seeds from hell.  King David had it all.  He was wealthy, powerful and good looking.  From humble beginnings he became the leader of God's chosen people.  His story is well known.  He started off small, became an incredible warrior, worked his way to the top, and earned the highest reward imaginable:  King of the Jews.

This ruddy son of a shepherd - a tiny seed born from Heaven - turned out to become something quite remarkable and amazing, the stuff of fairy tales. 

But there are also seeds born from hell.  The smallest and most vile being the sins of pride, vanity and sensuality.

Although David had it all, it apparently wasn't enough for him.  While he rose through the ranks, so to did his pride and passions.  Who on earth would dare to tell him, "No!" 

One day while strolling about on the roof of his palace, he saw a woman bathing who was very beautiful.  It turned out to be Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.  Using his "presidential" powers he called upon her and had relations with her. 

From a tiny seed of pride and biology something horrible and devastating grew from it:  lies, betrayal, and murder.

The seeds of pride can quickly grow and spread into all shades of death and destruction, leaving no stone unturned, no life untouched, no soul unscathed.

The seeds from heaven.  The Lord said to his Apostles, "The Kingdom of God...is like a mustard seed that...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."  

Faith, hope and love are seeds that come down heaven, and the greatest of these is love.

Love endures all things, believes all things, hopes all things.  Love never fails.  It is a seed that, once planted in the human heart, spreads like wild blue bonnets, creating a shade for peace and serenity and a resting place for weary souls.

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.