Word to the Wise
Friday, January 30, 2026 - Friday in the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time
[2 Sam 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17 and Mark 4:26-34,393]"This is how it is with the Kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come." [Mark]
A well-known expression to those who have served in the military is: "Hurry up and wait!" I think this expression captures the meaning of the parable above which is followed by the one of the mustard seed. Tiny seeds must be planted, but they do not immediately produce results. The grower must await the germination and growth until the time comes for the harvest. But the "hurry up" part of the saying means that the grower must sow that seed so that there will be any crop at all. The mustard seed parable is a reminder that from tiny things great things can happen but that mustard seed still has to be sown!
In my own experience in ministry, I have learned that even a single word of comfort or encouragement can have a long-term result, but I cannot expect to see immediate results. But the consistent and persevering effort to plant the seed of encouragement has to take place if there are going to be results. Those results may not be exterior but simply interior. The patience that Jesus teaches can be hard to experience, and timing is very important as well. There will be a lot of "learning on the job" in the process. One must have confidence that the Holy Spirit will work through our efforts and that there will be a harvest. AMEN
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