Today's Gospel in Art - The Kingdom of God is like a Mustard Seed

Open Your Mind, by Mr Brainwash 2021, Limited edition print © Whitewall Galleries/Mr Brainwash

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 29th January 2021 - Mark 4:26-34

Jesus said to the crowds: 'This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man throws seed on the land. Night and day, while he sleeps, when he is awake, the seed is sprouting and growing; how, he does not know. Of its own accord the land produces first the shoot, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the crop is ready, he loses no time: he starts to reap because the harvest has come.'

He also said, 'What can we say the kingdom of God is like? What parable can we find for it? It is like a mustard seed which at the time of its sowing in the soil is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.'

Using many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, so far as they were capable of understanding it. He would not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything to his disciples when they were alone.

Reflection on the Street Artwork

In our Gospel reading today, Jesus continues to talk about the Kingdom of God. The image He uses here is the image of the mustard seed and how it grows into the biggest shrub of all. The mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, and yet when it grows, it can become one of the largest and most productive of plants. We are like the tiny mustard seed. We may think of ourselves as small, insignificant and unable to make a difference, and yet Jesus boosts our outlook today by saying that we too can make a difference in our world. Our smallest efforts can produce abundant fruit…

…and that can start only by appreciating what we have and the talents we have been given. As we are now at the end of January, we are coming towards the end of still wishing people a 'happy new year'. I wanted to share therefore one of the better artworks that was produced in these past few weeks, announcing that this year will still be a year like no other. The text in the artwork is self-explanatory. The Gospel reading is pretty self-explanatory too… Appreciating the mustard seed of our faith we have been given and nurturing it into an abundant tree, will make the impossible possible...

LINKS

Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/685
Christian Art - www.christian.art/index.php