Hi everyone and welcome back to the podcast where we take a look at the gospel reading from the mass today.

And then we're going to have a look at an exegesis of that passage.

So in today's Mass, you'll hear from Mark chapter 4 versus 26 to 34.

So let's have a look at the passage.

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 chute, 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 sewing 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.

He would not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything to his disciples when they

were alone.

So we're continuing in Mark chapter 4, which is a whole chapter of parables.

And so we have two small parables today, both which involve plants.

Now again, like yesterday, the lectionary at the start of this passage is a little bit misleading

because the first part of today's passage in the lectionary says Jesus said to the crowds.

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