Mark Chapter 4

There’s lots here in Mark.  Some of it is the same as we found in Matthew. But verses 30-32 stand out to me. 

“To what can we liken the realm of God? By what can we illustrate it? Perhaps by the growth of a mustard seed.  This seed, when sown in the ground, though it is smaller than all other seeds, yet when sown shoots up and becomes larger than any other herb and puts out great branches so that even ‘the wild birds can rest in its shelter.’”

I’ve shared before my beliefs on the realm of God, the Kin’dom of heaven.  I don’t believe it to be some far off place, high up in the clouds, that we have to first die to get to.  I believe it is right here, right now, on earth, in our communities, and within ourselves.

I believe it is something that we, as individuals and as communities, can bring about.

When thinking of the mustard seed I think of Sunday School as a little girl, and also as a teacher, how we would look at the mustard seed and how tiny it is.  We might would compare it to a pumpkin seed or other large seed so that we could really understand how very small it is.  

As I read this today, I thought of that itty bitty seed.  I thought of the world around me and I was reminded again, that it is up to us, each and every one of us, to bring about the realm of God.  Even little ol’ me… or you. 

With all that is going on in the United States, it’s hard to catch a glimpse of the realm of God if you aren’t looking.  With the hate, the violence against the innocent, to include small children and the elderly, it’s really hard, but if you look closely and in the right places, it’s there.

It’s the meals and groceries taken to those who fear leaving their homes, it’s in the groups on the street singing, hoping bring comfort and justice.  It’s in the whistle sounding offering warning and protection.  

The realm of God is in each small but meaningful, loving, caring random act of kindness.

Each stitch of prayer shawl.

Each stir of the pot or toss of the salad for the meal shared.

Each coin or dollar given .

Each hug.

Each hat donated.

Each canned good shared.

The realm of God starts out as a small seed in each of us that is waiting to grow and branch out to shelter others, protect them, to help, to love — to love others.

May we nurture the realm of God within us, so that it can grow and spread out to others around us — near and far.

Until next time…♥️