Lectionary Reflection
Year B, Proper 6
Revised Common Lectionary
Gospel
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Mark 4: 26-34
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Jesus
said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would
scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise
night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he
does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first
the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the
head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in
with his sickle, because the harvest has come."
He also said, "With what can
we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will
we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when
sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds
on earth; 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."
With many such parables he spoke
the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did
not speak to them except in parables, but he explained
everything in private to his disciples.
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| New
Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989
by the Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Church of Christ in the
USA, and used by permission. |
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Reflection
on Mark 4: 27
by the Rev Wanda Copeland
and
would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout
and grow, he does not know how.
For an experiment
in high school Biology class, I planted several bean seeds in
soil, and watered them all. In a few days each one of them sprouted.
Although the experiment was meant to show how different plants
in the same family responded to various fertilizers, for me
the greatest wonder was that through no fault or credit of mine
the seeds germinated. From an insignificant, pale, seemingly
lifeless seed came an entire plant that grew two feet tall and
produced seeds of its own. To this day, I still do not know
what makes those seeds grow.
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The
Rev Wanda Copeland has been Rector of Holy
Trinity Episcopal Church, Elk River, MN, Assistant Priest
of St. Christopher's
Episcopal Church, Roseville, MN, Co-chair (1997-2001) of
MEESC and Chair (2001-2004) of the Episcopal
Ecological Network. Wanda wrote these comments in 2000.
Wanda and we welcome your comments. Please address your comments
or additional reflections to Wanda
Copeland or any MEESC
member, or mail them to:
MEESC
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Eveleth, MN 55743-4400 USA |
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