First Reading - 2 Samuel 7:4-17
Gospel - Mark 4:1-20
The First Reading from 2 Samuel shows King David at a moment of good intention. He wants to build a house for God. It seems noble, generous, and religious. Yet God interrupts his plan. Through the prophet Nathan, God makes something clear: David will not build a house for God; God will build a house for David. God reminds David that everything he has comes from divine initiative, not human effort. The promise God makes is far greater than a building. It is a future, a lineage, and a lasting relationship.
This moment teaches a humbling truth. Faith is not primarily about what we do for God, but about what God is doing for us and through us. David’s role is not to control the outcome, but to trust the promise. God’s work unfolds on God’s terms, often beyond what we imagine or plan.
The Gospel from Mark carries this truth into daily life through a familiar image. Jesus speaks of a sower who scatters seed generously. The seed is the same in every place, but the results differ. Some seed is lost quickly. Some begins well but does not endure. Only the seed that falls on good soil bears fruit.
What is striking is that the farmer does not control the soil. Growth depends not on effort alone, but on openness, depth, and perseverance. Jesus is honest about the obstacles: distraction, fear, shallow commitment, and competing desires. Fruitfulness is not automatic. It requires a heart that is receptive and willing to be shaped over time.
Dear friends, God is generous with promises and with grace. But how those promises take root depends on whether we allow God to work beyond our plans and within our hearts. David had to let go of his project in order to receive God’s promise. The soil must be cleared and deepened in order for the seed to grow.
Many people are busy doing things for God, for family, for work, for community, yet feel spiritually dry or frustrated. Others wonder why their efforts do not seem to bear fruit. Today’s word invites a pause. It asks not what more we should do, but how open we are to God’s way of working.
Are we too attached to our plans to hear God’s redirection? Are our hearts crowded with noise, anxiety, or divided priorities? Do we give faith enough depth to endure difficulty and time?
Trust God’s promise even when it unfolds differently than expected. Let go of the need to control outcomes. Make space within your heart for God’s word to take root deeply. Be patient with growth, both in yourself and in others.
When we stop trying to build God’s kingdom by our own design and allow God to build within us, fruit begins to appear. Quietly, steadily, and often unexpectedly. And like David, we discover that God’s plans are not smaller than ours, but far greater, shaping a future grounded not in our achievements, but in God’s faithful promise.
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