Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15
The righteous shall spread abroad like a cedar of Lebanon. (Ps. 92:12)
1It is a good thing to give thanks | to the Lord,
to sing praise to your name, | O Most High;
2to herald your love | in the morning
and your faithful- | ness at night;
3on the psaltery, and | on the lyre,
and to the melody | of the harp.
4For you have made me glad by your | acts, O Lord;
and I shout for joy because of the works | of your hands.
12The righteous shall flourish | like a palm tree,
and shall spread abroad like a ce- | dar of Lebanon.
13Those who are planted in the house | of the Lord
shall flourish in the courts | of our God;
14they shall still bear fruit | in old age;
they shall be | green and succulent;
15that they may show how up- | right the Lord is,
my rock, in whom there is | no injustice.
to sing praise to your name, | O Most High;
2to herald your love | in the morning
and your faithful- | ness at night;
3on the psaltery, and | on the lyre,
and to the melody | of the harp.
4For you have made me glad by your | acts, O Lord;
and I shout for joy because of the works | of your hands.
12The righteous shall flourish | like a palm tree,
and shall spread abroad like a ce- | dar of Lebanon.
13Those who are planted in the house | of the Lord
shall flourish in the courts | of our God;
14they shall still bear fruit | in old age;
they shall be | green and succulent;
15that they may show how up- | right the Lord is,
my rock, in whom there is | no injustice.
Gospel: Mark 4:26-34
Jesus frequently uses parables to teach ordinary people as they are able to hear and understand. Images of sowing and growing show the vitality of God’s kingdom.
26[Jesus] said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground,27and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.”
30He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32yet 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.”
33With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.
30He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32yet 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.”
33With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.
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