Family Bible Study - June 17th, 2012 - 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, B June 17, 2012 Gospel Passage Mark 4:26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground, 27 and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28 The earth produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” 30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34 he did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything. Questions 1. Jesus says that his kingdom is like a seed that he scatters and grows on its own. Does a seed have the power within to grow on its own or does one need to stay up all night to help it to grow? A seed also needs water and sun to grow. To what can you compare this water and sun in the spiritual life of faith? 2. Jesus says his kingdom, his church, is like a tiny seed that begins very small but then grows huge. Is that what happened in the early Church? Is that what can happen at St. Anthony’s 100 years ago? Is that what can happen again now? 3. What is a parable? Why do you think Jesus teaches in parables? used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry