Quiet Working Power!

Friday, January 30, 2026

2 Sam 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17; Mk 4:26-34

Today’s Gospel invites us to trust in God’s quiet working power through the two Parables of the Kingdom.

The Parable of the Growing Seed, which underlines the imperceptible, inner growth of the seed, inspires awe and wonder at God’s quiet working power that functions independent of human involvement. The statement ‘He knows not how’ not only signifies the irrelevance of the human role in it but also affirms that God is in control of all things. The automatic manner in which the growth takes place in the seed symbolizes that the real work belongs to God. 

Likewise, the Parable of the Mustard Seed points to Jesus’ deliberate choice of the seed because of its insignificant smallness to present the greatness of the Kingdom, which is universal and inclusive. ‘The humble beginning leading to exponential growth’ is the Kingdom story. Thus, Jesus employs an ordinary day-to-day image that is often neglected as an example to convey the great truth about the Kingdom. 

What is more beautiful is the way in which Jesus shatters the illusion that we, humans, are in control of things. At the same time, Jesus takes care that the fact of God being in charge should not promote passivity in us. Instead, both parables invite us to be dynamic and vibrant agents of God’s mission, only leaving the result to God in an attitude of total trust and surrender.

The famous inscription on the wall of a cellar in Cologne, Germany, where a number of Jews hid themselves for the entire duration of World War II, reflects with hope the truth of God’s quiet working power. It reads, ‘I believe in the sun even when it is not shining; I believe in love even when I cannot feel it; I believe in God even when He is silent.’ 

For someone who has immense faith in God, ‘shivering and surrendering’ becomes the proper disposition because the Kingdom does not depend on human perfection or strategies but on God’s omnipotence.

Let us pray for the humility to leave everything to God, Who is in charge.

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar