Pentecost+3/Proper 6B (Mark 4:26-34)

For us Christians, it’s crucial to actually know and remember the good news of Jesus. What did he proclaim? What news did he consider as good for all? Jesus didn’t tell people to join a new religion called Christianity. Although he did tell us to follow him to the cross, that’s not really the good news he first shared with people. His good news was “Repent, for the kingdom of God is near.” What this message means to get its core would be, “Look inside, for the kingdom of God is in you.” 

Just as in the parable of Jesus this morning, the kingdom of God is scattered and planted on the ground of our hearts. It is already grown and ripe for the harvest. Let’s not be mistaken that this kingdom of God is something that we have to grow. As the sower in the parable does not know how the seed would sprout and grow, we also do not know how the seed of God’s kingdom sprout and grow. Jesus says, “The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head.” The only thing left to do is to go out with a sickle because the harvest has come.

That the kingdom of God is already within us, is already here and now, and is already ripe for the harvest is in and of itself God’s grace for us all. We are then to realize what’s yet unsought within us, what’s yet hidden here and now in us, and what’s yet to be harvested. Our spiritual practice is to move from our unreality of “not yet” to God’s reality of “already” with the guidance of the Spirit. No need to look further but only to look inwardly as if we’re shedding light on the inner part of ourselves. Once we know how to look deep inside us and discover the seed of the kingdom of God already ripe for the harvest, we also can see the same in others, particularly those whose behaviors or characters don’t seem to have anything sacred in them! To see the kingdom of God in them is our way of love and to help them see for themselves this kingdom in them is God’s ministry. 

This task of looking inwardly or gazing upon the kingdom of God is both difficult and simple. It’s difficult for two reasons: (1) because it’s like a mustard seed in the parable of Jesus which is the smallest of all the seeds when sown upon the ground, we don’t see it. The dirt of thoughts, feelings, words, and actions hides the divine seed. Also, (2) due to the very nature of God’s kingdom in us that sustains our being, we seem to take for granted this source of our existence. It’s like we don’t usually thank the air we breathe in as much as we don’t thank our ability to breathe. Gratitude helps us get out of ourselves in that it wakes us up from the illusion that we can independently sustain ourselves on our own or that we are created out of our own image. Gratitude reveals our impermanent and interdependent nature. 

Then, it is essential to brush off by means of self-compassion the dirt of thoughts, feelings, words, and actions that either judge ourselves and others or puff up our ego wand develop a habit of gratitude that acknowledges our interdependence on God, others, and the universe. In other words, we must learn to quiet down all our thoughts, feelings, words, and actions as well as our bodies with a sense of gratitude. Once we delve into the practice of sitting in silence to settle down our busy minds with a grateful heart, everything becomes simple. We don’t need to go anywhere to be in the kingdom of God. We don’t need to look outside to find God. God has already given us the gift of the kingdom of God within us. This inner kingdom is where Jesus leads us. 
I can suggest one way that can help you experience the inner kingdom of God. Find a quiet place and sit in silence. Think about people who have helped you to be where you are right now. Without them, you wouldn’t even be able to make it this far. Imagine all the faces of those for whom you’re thankful. Move your gratitude to things around you. The chair where you’re sitting quietly, the air you’re breathing in and out, the body you have now, etc. Once we concentrate on gratitude, our minds are not distracted by anything. Gratitude becomes a peaceful distraction that shuts down all other distractions. 

Don’t be surprised to discover that this spiritual practice of calm abiding with gratitude is just a beginning. It motivates us to reach out to those in need as we become freer of ourselves. Jesus’ depiction of the mustard seed sown and grown up to become the greatest of all shrubs and put forth large branches is what we want to envision and embody in ourselves. Let us become the sacred place where the birds of the air can make nests in its shade. Amen.