1/30/2026 (Friday) Today’s Gospel reading: Mark 4:26-34

26 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
27 and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how.
28 Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
29 And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.”
30 He said, “To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it?
31 It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.
32 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.”
33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.
34 Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

1/30/2026 (Friday) Today’s Gospel reflection / homily / sermon: Mark 4:26-34

Spiritual growth often unfolds in ways that are quiet, hidden, and easy to overlook. In this Gospel passage that speaks about seeds growing and small beginnings becoming something great, Jesus invites us to trust a process that is largely beyond human control. The farmer plants and waits; the seed grows whether he is awake or asleep. Growth happens not because of constant supervision, but because life itself has been planted and nurtured.

This speaks powerfully to our spiritual journey today. Many of us live in a culture that demands instant results such as instant success, instant maturity, and instant answers. We measure progress by numbers, visibility, and speed. Yet spiritual growth does not follow the rhythm of social media timelines or productivity charts. It happens slowly, often invisibly, through daily faithfulness: showing up for prayer even when we feel dry, choosing kindness when no one notices, remaining honest in a world that rewards shortcuts.

The image of the seed reminds us that God’s work in us is real even when we cannot see it. A person struggling with doubt may still be growing deeper roots of faith. A parent patiently shaping values in a child may not see the fruit for years. A worker who chooses integrity in a corrupt system may feel unnoticed, yet something solid and lasting is forming. Growth is not always loud; sometimes it is strongest when it is silent.

Jesus also speaks about something small becoming unexpectedly large. What begins as insignificant becomes a place of shelter and life for others. This challenges the way we underestimate small acts of faith. A simple habit of prayer can transform a life. A short word of encouragement can restore hope. A small ministry, started with sincerity rather than resources, can bless many more people than imagined. In a world obsessed with size and influence, God values faithfulness and depth.

Modern spiritual growth also requires patience. We live surrounded by distractions that pull us away from reflection and depth. Growth, however, demands time to listen, to fail, to learn, and to begin again. Like seeds, our souls need space, consistency, and trust in God’s timing. Trying to force growth only leads to frustration. Allowing God to work, even when progress feels slow, leads to maturity.

This message invites us to relax our grip and deepen our trust. Our task is not to control growth but to cooperate with grace: to plant good seeds through choices rooted in love, truth, and humility. God takes care of the unseen work. In time, growth will come, not always in the way we expect, but always in ways that matter.

Spiritual growth is not about becoming impressive; it is about becoming fruitful. And fruit, by nature, takes time.

God bless you.

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