If there is one thing that becomes clear from the two parables in today’s gospel-reading, it is that Jesus was not a farmer. No farmer worth his salt would ever plant a crop without taking precautions to protect it from birds and predatory insects. A farmer would hardly ever plant a crop and leave it to grow all by itself. The point Jesus was surely making in the parable that opens today’s gospel reading is that nobody would ever be able to control the growth of the kingdom of God. Jesus himself was unable to control its growth, for he could not control the religious leaders who refused to listen to the message he was intent on proclaiming. I want to suggest that, paradoxically, he wanted to teach his disciples that they, too, would run into opposition from those from whom they least expected it to come.

Ordinary people across the world are coming out in public to march in protest against the killing of innocent people in terrorist attacks, in the wars involving the Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Hezbollah, and in crimes of domestic violence. Many of the protesters are motivated by their own moral integrity, commitment to social justice, ordinary human decency and/or respect for fellow human beings. In the wars to which I have just referred, so-called leaders try to justify the deaths of innocent victims as “unfortunate but unavoidable collateral damage”. Such attempted explanations no longer wash with people who have a moral compass.

For centuries, we Christians have struggled to understand, appreciate and live the Eucharist. It is more than receiving sacramental Communion and taking time to have an intimate conversation with Jesus. While there may be many of us who regard that as the high point of going to Mass, it runs the risk of our missing a fuller understanding of Eucharist. In stating that, I do not wish to belittle those who see reception of Jesus in Communion and conversation with him as the highlight of their daily and Sunday Eucharist. 

Last Sunday morning when I was tuned into a talk-back radio programme, a listener called in asking for residents living near him to help him find his pet, wall-eyed Samoyed dog which had gone astray. He explained to the radio compere that he would be broken-hearted if he was not reunited with his best friend. That plea reminded me of another story of an elderly man who was out enjoying his customary evening stroll when he heard a quiet voice calling: “Help me! Please, help me!”

Before I offer a reflection on the Pentecost readings, I want to suggest that our religious education has sometimes left us with an incorrect understanding of the word “Advocate” as it is applied to the Holy Spirit. In light of the fact that we are loved by God everlastingly and unconditionally, we don’t need the Holy Spirit to plead to God on our behalf or to present our needs and wants to God.