Mark 4:28 (WEB)
For the earth bears fruit by itself: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
Catechism · 1
“Then, by its own power, the seed sprouts and grows until the harvest.” — Catechism footnote: LC 5; cf. Mk 4:14, 26-29; Lk 12:32.
Fathers and councils · 16
Irenaeus of Lyons
“…His Word, through whom the wood fructifies, and the fountains gush forth, and the earth gives “first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear.”” — editor's note: Mark iv. 28.
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Augustine of Hippo
“This inference is confirmed by the fact that Mark keeps by the same order.” — editor's note: Mark iv. 1–34.
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Tertullian
“…fruit itself, rude for a while, and unshapely, little by little, keeping the straight course of its development, is trained to the mellowness of its flavour.” — editor's note: Comp. Mark iv. 28.
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Catena Aurea on Mark
- Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Mark
A parable occurred, a little above, about the three seeds which perished in various ways, and the one which was saved; in which last He also shews three differences, according to the proportion of faith and practice.…
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The kingdom of God is the Church, which is ruled by God, and herself rules over men, and treads down the powers which are contrary to her, and all wickedness.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Mark
Or else He calls by the name of kingdom of God, faith in Him, and in the economy of His Incarnation; which kingdom indeed is as if a man should throw seed. For He Himself being God and the Son of God, having without…
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For the seed is the word of life, the ground is the human heart, and the sleep of the man means the death of the Saviour. The seed springs up night and day, because after the sleep of Christ, the number of…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Mark
Or Christ Himself is the man who rises, for He sat waiting with patience, that they who received seed should bear fruit. He rises, that is, by the word of His love, He makes us grow to the bringing forth fruit, by…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Mark
Or else Christ sleeps, that is, ascends into heaven, where, though He seem to sleep, yet He rises by night, when through temptations He raises us up to the knowledge of Himself; and in the day time, when on account…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Mark
But when He says, “He knoweth not how,” He is speaking in a figure; that is, He does not make known to us, who amongst us will produce fruit unto the end.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Mark
Or else He says, “He knoweth not,” that He may shew the free-will of those who receive the word, for He commits a work to our will, and does not work the whole Himself alone, lest the good should seem involuntary.…
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That is, fear. For “the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Then the full corn in the ear;” [Ps 111:10] that is, charity, for charity is the fulfilling of the Law. [see Rom 13:8]
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Mark
Or, first it produces the blade, in the law of nature, by degrees growing up to advancement; afterwards it brings forth the ears, which are to be collected into a bundle, and to be offered on an altar to the Lord,…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Mark
for we put forth the blade when we shew a principle of good; then the ear, when we can resist temptations; then comes the fruit, when a man works something perfect. It goes on: “and when it has brought forth the…
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The sickle is death or the judgment, which cuts down all things; the harvest is the end of the world.
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Mark
Or else, Man casts seed into the ground, when he places a good intention in his heart; and he sleeps, when he already rests in the hope which attends on a good work. But he rises night and day, because he advances…
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Cross-references · 13
Cited together in Catechism §543.
Cited together in On the Veiling of Virgins Chapter 1.
Cited together in On the Veiling of Virgins Chapter 1.
Cited together in On the Veiling of Virgins Chapter 1.
Cited together in On the Veiling of Virgins Chapter 1.
Cited together in Jerome on Mark 4:26–29 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Pseudo-Chrysostom on Mark 4:26–29 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in On the Veiling of Virgins Chapter 1.
Cited together in On the Veiling of Virgins Chapter 1.
Cited together in On the Veiling of Virgins Chapter 1.
Cited together in Catechism §543.
Cited together in On the Veiling of Virgins Chapter 1.
Cited together in Catechism §543.