In today's gospel, the farmer does have to work very hard to ensure a good harvest. He has to prepare the ground, put in the seed, water the field and keep away the birds. It is hard work. We admire the farmer and so does Jesus.

The point of the parables, however, is that even with all the farmer's back-breaking work there would be no result unless there was life in the seeds themslves. The farmer can encourage the growth. He can protect the growing plants but he cannot instil life in the seed. That is God's work alone. It is his activity. Without that essential element the farmer might just as well have not started work.

In similar fashion the growth of God's kingdom among us is fundamentally an activity of God's. Built on that divine foundation and intertwined with that divine activity is our endeavour to grow in our love of God and our labour to help others to grow in their love of Him.

If we forget the utter necessity of God's presence and activity in the birth and growth of the Kingdom on earth, our efforts could well descend into obnoxious, tyrannical and self defeating activity. Alternatively, we might become so discouraged by setbacks that we would give up the struggle. That would be sad because the Kingdom would continue to grow - but without our input.