he knows not how. The soil produces of itself; first, the blade; then, the ear; then the full grain in
the ear. And when it is ripe for harvesting, they take the sickle for the cutting: the time for the
harvest has come.”

Jesus also said, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what shall we compare it? It is like a
mustard seed which, when sown, is the smallest of all the seeds scattered upon the soil.
But once sown, it grows up and becomes the largest of the plants in the garden; and even
grows branches so big, that the birds of the air can take shelter in its shade.”

Jesus used many such stories, in order to proclaim the word to them in a way that they
would be able to understand. He would not teach them without parables; but privately,
to his disciples, he explained everything.

Reflect

From the Old Testament to the New Testament and from Saint Augustine to Pope Francis,
Scripture and Tradition have consistently taught that God is revealed in the beauty and mystery
of nature. Throughout his public ministry, Jesus used images from the natural world to teach the
people about the kingdom of God.

In these days, it often seems that nature is at war with humankind. Around the world, climate
change has increased desertification and flooding, increased the strength and frequency of
hurricanes and typhoons, and made earthquakes and wildfires more common. While we do
not worship the natural world, we do see it as a gift of God. Through it, we can see the hand
of the Creator. We need to treat it as a gift, taking care to live lightly on the earth, to use
resources with care, sharing them with those in need. By respecting creation, we honor the
Creator.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2023