Sunday, 16 June 2024. Readings: Ezekiel 17:22-24, Ps. 92:2-3,13-16, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, Mark 4:26-34
“The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how.” (Mark 4:26-27)
Today's readings are at the heart of our current liturgical season: Ordinary Time. As you have noticed, this season's major colour of vestments and other liturgical items is green. And what does green symbolise? Vegetation, Growth, Fertility, Improvement, etc. Green is the colour of trees, grass, most plants, and the farm in general.
In today’s first reading, Ezekiel uses words related to planting and vegetation: sprig, cedar, twigs, fruit, branches, boughs, low tree, high tree, dry tree, green tree, flourish, etc. In our Gospel passage, Jesus speaks about scattering seeds, spouting and growing, the blade, the ear, the full grain, the ripe grain, harvest, the mustard seed, shrub, large branches and so on. There are indeed so many lessons contained in our readings and in our liturgical season, but we shall outline a few:
1. The Season of Ordinary Time is a season of Growth.
It would be contradictory to wear green while our relationship with God is not growing significantly. Recall how Jesus was attracted to a fig tree with leaves, only to go close and not find any young fruit sprouting. Our spiritual lives should grow and improve between now and the next liturgical season, Advent, which begins in November.
2. God’s Kingdom is not complicated or difficult to understand.
Jesus gave this parable to show that God’s kingdom operates on principles similar to what we see happen daily in our farms and gardens. God’s kingdom is alive.
3. God’s kingdom begins with a seed – the Word of God.
Outwardly, the seed may look small and insignificant, but by the time the Word is fully mature, its true nature and power are manifested. But this seed has to be planted to grow. We must let God’s Word take root in our hearts by constantly reading and meditating on the Word. As Moses admonished Joshua: “This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have success.” (Joshua 1:8).
4. God is the one responsible for Growth.
Many have asked, “How does reading the Bible make me prosperous and successful?” Jesus tells us that a man scatters the seed on the ground and goes to sleep only to see the seed growing. How this happens, he does not know. In other words, it is not for us to know how the Word works; all we have to do is scatter the seed and let God do the rest.
5. Do not be discouraged by little beginnings.
The mustard seed is one of the smallest types of seeds, so small it became the yardstick for describing smallness. Jesus once used the mustard seed to describe how little our faith needs to be for our prayers to be effective. In this context, he used the mustard seed to describe how little the kingdom of God may appear at the beginning. We do not become saints overnight. A tree does not mature overnight. It takes time. Growth happens step by step; we may not see progress, but we know something is happening.
This is where our second reading today comes in. St. Paul says: “We walk by faith, not by sight. Therefore, we are of good courage.” Two great virtues we learn from experienced farmers are patience and hope. A farmer sets out to work long before he even sees the rains. He knows that harvest time is not the same as planting time, but in between, he waits! Farming teaches us to wait. Christians today must learn to wait for God. We walk by faith, not by sight. We may not get quick answers, but our prayers will never be vain.
6. The birds of the air only come to take shade under the branches of the mature tree.
What do these birds represent? Firstly, the world, that is, all of mankind, even unbelievers, benefit from our growth in spirit. Secondly, the evil ones. In another parable, Jesus tells us how the birds of the air come to steal the seed that falls on the path. This means we must always be on our guard because our enemy, the devil, comes to steal, kill and destroy when we have established ourselves in God. There comes a time when prayers become difficult, boring and sparse. Those are moments we must not allow these birds of the air to take away our fruits.
7. There is surely a day of harvest.
When the tree is fully grown, there is surely a time to reap its fruits. Harvest time comes at the end of our lives, when we shall all be called upon to give an account of what we did with our time on earth. There is surely a day of judgement. We are free to make everyday choices but not based on the consequences of our actions or inactions.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, may my time on earth be fruitful according to your will and pleasure. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (11th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Ezekiel 17:22-24, Ps. 92:2-3,13-16, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, Mark 4:26-34).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu
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