The Sower in St. Mark

Wednesday's (second series) Gospel contains another sower, from St. Mark 4, a man who cast seed into the ground; slept and rose night and day, and the seed springs and grows up, "he knoweth not how." This man is Christ himself, who first preaches, then dies (sleeps), then rises (wakes), and the seed grows until the final harves (judgment). The word does its own work; even Christ himself "goes to sleep" and lets it do its thing. The sermon.