Seeds of Hope and Faith: Understanding the Parables – Sunday Reflection

Greetings on this the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Ez 17:22-24; Ps 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16; 2 Cor 5:6-10; Mk 4:26-34

Parables are seeds of hope

Parables are like the seeds in the gospel portion today. Once you hear or read a parable it works in ways we do not completely understand.

It is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and through it all the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.”

Kingdom is as a good tree

The kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”

Reflection

Our first reading today is the promise of restoration and return having suffered the conquest of Israel by Nebuchadnezzar and losing both Jehoiachin and Zedekiah, the last Kings of Judah. The Lord will overcome these setback of men and restore a kingdom of peace. Ezekiel is a retrospective prophet. He considers the Mosaic and Davidic covenants, their meaning and purposes, as a way to encounter the then current times and the then current future. His optimism is based on a considered retrospective of the history of Israel.

Reaching out to all of us, Jesus offers parables to achieve the same end in us the ordinary folks. To develop a retrospective view of our lives. How has the Lord helped us in days gone by? Have things turned out better or worse than my greatest fears? Parables are puzzles, yes, but with a teaching purpose. To allow deeper thoughts and longer reflection of the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord.

Personal Reflection

Writing you with the discomfort of the flu does not make it more difficult to praise God. Rather it allows for retrospective deepening of the ancient and sacred promises. We get sick, sure. We usually recover, yes! And ultimately return to the Lord at the end of our days. Whatever the outcome there is love. In this life I choose to sit under the Olive tree of friendship. In this life I choose the the mustard tree for my safety.

I’m going to let the seeds of faith, hope and love grow within me. How it works I do not know. But work it does. Jesus reveals to us in private the same as he did the disciples. Only for us the “in private” is the interior of our hearts.

Sacred Readings

Full readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061624.cfm

First Reading

I, too, will take from the crest of the cedar, from its topmost branches tear off a tender shoot, and plant it on a high and lofty mountain; on the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it. It shall put forth branches and bear fruit, and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it, every winged thing in the shade of its boughs.

Responsorial

Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

Second Reading

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.

Gospel Acclamation

The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower. All who come to him will live forever.

Gospel

Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry