Gospel Reading for June 16, 2024 – Mark 4: 26-34
ALWAYS BE SAFE
Jesus said to the crowds: “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 through it all 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.”
He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.
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According to statistics, the early Christian population increased by 40% per decade. From 1,000 in the year 40 AD to 7,530 in 100 AD. By 350 AD there were already 33 million. Today, there are about 2.38 billion, about 1/3 of the world’s population. One would think that declining moral values will bring down Christianity. On the contrary, the challenges to Christianity makes us cling to it more. The Spirit of God strengthens and inspires us to choose God over Satan, and this is also because we know that when we are on God’s side, we will ALWAYS BE SAFE.
God never abandons those who choose to be on his side. He has ALL THE POWER after all! In God’s Kingdom, everything starts little, but it is sure to grow REALLY BIG!
Let’s ponder on this song written by Colin Buchanan, LITTLE BY LITTLE –
Little by little everyday;
Little by little in every way
Jesus is changing me,
He’s changing me.
Since I made that turn about face,
I’ve been growing in His grace.
Jesus is changing me.
He’s changing me, my precious Saviour.
I’m not the same person that I used to be.
Well, it’s been slow going
but there’s a knowing
that someday perfect I will be!
