It’s that time of the year when seeds are sown; plants begin to find their appropriate portions in the garden; time to get the hands dirty again. The scriptural readings presented at this time, as always, is very much in touch with the season. The readings use the image of farming and cultivation to portray God’s kingdom.

What can the Kingdom of God be likened to? We all have some notions of what a kingdom looks like; our cultural and social experiences often colour our understanding of a kingdom. Whether a sense of institution, tradition, affluence, territorial power and dominance, it often comes across as well structured and already made for anyone who is privileged to be part of it.

Like planting and seed sowing, we are presented with a non-stagnant notion of a kingdom; one that is involving and evolving; engaging and encouraging. There is a link between the present and the future; that link is about what we do now. Those who sow now will reap a good harvest.

There is a bit of parallel between the first reading and the gospel which does not contradict the notion of the God’s kingdom but enhances it.

• In the book of Ezekiel the Lord God of creation takes the sole responsibility of planting. (I myself will plant) In the gospel parable of Mark it is a certain man; anonymous.

• In the book of Ezekiel God knows exactly what he wants to plant and how; he “carefully” chooses a shoot from the top of the cedar to be planted on the high mountain of Israel. (A city – a kingdom built on a hilltop cannot be hidden) The gospel parable gives the impression that the seeds are “carelessly” “lavishly” and “generously” thrown to the lands. (Not only on a high mountain, down to the plains, God’s kingdom is spread; the wind of the Spirit blows where it wills)

• In the book of Ezekiel, the omniscience and omnipotent God has fore knowledge that he will empower this plant to grow into the biggest of all shrubs, under which the birds from all nations will come to find shelter. The parable of Mark says this man is off and on; sleeps and wakes up, while the seed grows – how, he does not know. The second parable mentions the mustard seed as the smallest of all seeds; but when it is sown, it grows to become the biggest of all shrubs. (It must be sown to grow into its full potentials; Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground it remains a single grain and bears no fruit)

• Have the two scriptural passages of Ezekiel and Mark got anything matching almost word to word? Yes. There is a sower, a gardener; There is a seed, a plant; there is growth. There is harvest; the full potential of the plant, sheltering all winged creatures of the earth.

God’s kingdom is the whole heaven and earth. God’s kingdom is humanity. God’s kingdom is the Church. God’s kingdom is the kingdom of justice, love and peace. The seed of faith sown in us is graciously and charitably sown in hope of a rich harvest. The harvest expectation is the hope of resurrection which inspires our faith-actions. God’s kingdom is here, yet expected.

St Paul reconciles the first reading and the gospel as he encourages our good works to cooperate with God’s grace; for we shall give an account of our deeds. In other words, what you sow is what you reap.

The psalmist encourages us to give thanks to the Lord. Thanksgiving is often associated with harvest times but we are encouraged to give thanks to the Lord at all times; in season and out of season; in sowing and in harvest; in loss and gain. For the just will flourish like a palm tree and grow like a Lebanon cedar; planted in the house of the Lord, still bearing fruit when they are old; still full of sap still green; to proclaim that the Lord is just; in him there is no wrong.