I used to be a high school teacher, and before my first day of teaching, my mentor talked to me about the gratitude I could expect from my students. The point was clear that it wasn’t going to come in abundance. In fact, it would likely be down the road when a former student would express thanks for something that happened many years ago.

This important practice of patience reminds me of the two parables in today’s passage. The first one is about a farmer who scatters seed and waits. The earth produces the crop, and eventually the farmer comes back to harvest. What takes place between the planting and the harvest is out of the farmer’s hands. The second parable is the illustration of the mustard seed. It starts small but over time grows into the largest of plants. In both cases, Jesus is teaching a lesson we talk about a lot around Hope: When God’s word goes out, it doesn’t come back empty.

Hope’s vision statement includes the phrase “make heaven more crowded.” As followers of Jesus, we have been commissioned to share our story and take the message of Jesus to all nations. Relationships matter, and Jesus was the embodiment of relationships. There may be numerous steps between first hearing about Jesus and finally becoming committed to him. There is no way to know what role you are playing in someone’s journey. The important part is that you are willing to listen and share your story when the opportunity exists.

God’s word is the seed. We may be the farmers who plant it, we may be the soil that nurtures it, we could be the water that quenches it, or we could be the sunlight that energizes it. Whatever role we play, the fact remains that we can further the journey of the people we encounter every day. Don’t hesitate. Don’t be shy. God has put you in this moment for a reason.

Reflection:

  • Who were the people who brought the message to you?
  • Where would you be today if they had chosen to be quiet?
  • Give yourself some credit and recognize a situation where you may have contributed in some way to the journey of someone else.