Three parables of sowing

This article by the Orthodox monk and theologian Lev Gillet offers an exegetical meditation on three parables of sowing drawn from chapter 4 of the Gospel of Mark. The author adopts a contemplative and analytical approach, drawing on historical and agronomical data to renew the reading of familiar texts. The central idea is that each of these parables contains a profound meaning that is often overlooked: the first reveals the importance of spiritual ploughing as a condition for the fruitfulness of the Word; the second underscores the invisible and autonomous growth of grace in the human soul; the third highlights the paradox of the kingdom of God, whose very smallness is the necessary condition of its greatness. On the theological level, the article enriches the patristic tradition by articulating kenosis, interiority, and human cooperation in the divine work.