Daily Readings - Sun Jun 17 2018

²²Thus says the Lord God: "I myself will take from the kernel of the exalted cedar, and I will establish it. I will tear off a tender twig from the top of its branches, and I will plant it on a mountain, lofty and exalted²³On the sublime mountains of Israel, I will plant it. And it shall spring forth in buds and bear fruit, and it shall be a great cedar. And all the birds will live under it, and every bird will make its nest under the shadow of its branches²⁴And all the trees of the regions will know that I, the Lord, have brought low the sublime tree, and have exalted the lowly tree, and have dried up the green tree, and have caused the dry tree to flourish. I, the Lord, have spoken and acted.

2 Corinthians

Chapter 5

⁶Therefore, we are ever confident, knowing that, while we are in the body, we are on a pilgrimage in the Lord⁷For we walk by means of faith, and not by sight⁸So we are confident, and we have the good will to be on a pilgrimage in the body, so as to be present to the Lord.⁹And thus we struggle, whether absent or present, to please him¹⁰For it is necessary for us to be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive the proper things of the body, according to his behavior, whether it was good or evil

Mark

Chapter 4

²⁶And he said: "The kingdom of God is like this: it is as if a man were to cast seed on the land²⁷And he sleeps and he arises, night and day. And the seed germinates and grows, though he does not know it²⁸For the earth bears fruit readily: first the plant, then the ear, next the full grain in the ear²⁹And when the fruit has been produced, immediately he sends out the sickle, because the harvest has arrived.³⁰And he said: "To what should we compare the kingdom of God? Or to what parable should we compare it³¹It is like a grain of mustard seed which, when it has been sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds which are in the earth³²And when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all the plants, and it produces great branches, so much so that the birds of the air are able to live under its shadow.³³And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as much as they were able to hear³⁴But he did not speak to them without a parable. Yet separately, he explained all things to his disciples

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter powerful metaphors and reflections on faith, growth, and the mystery of God’s kingdom. The first reading from Ezekiel presents a vivid image of God’s power to transform and restore. The Lord takes a small twig from a majestic cedar and plants it on a high mountain, where it grows into a mighty tree, providing shelter for all the birds of the air. This passage reminds us of God’s ability to humble the proud and exalt the lowly, as well as His promise to bring life and flourishing even in the most unlikely circumstances. The second reading from 2 Corinthians shifts our focus to the spiritual journey of the believer. Paul describes the Christian life as a pilgrimage, where we walk by faith rather than sight. Though we may struggle in the body, we are called to trust in God’s plan and strive to please Him, knowing that one day we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. This passage invites us to reflect on our own faith journey and the ways in which we are being shaped by God’s grace, even when the path is uncertain. In the Gospel, Mark offers two parables about the kingdom of God. The first compares the kingdom to a seed that grows mysteriously, even when the sower is unaware of the process. The second likens it to a mustard seed, which, though small, grows into a tree large enough to shelter the birds of the air. These parables teach us to trust in the hidden and often imperceptible ways God works in the world and in our lives. Just as the seed requires time and care to grow, our faith and efforts, however small they may seem, can bear fruit in ways we cannot fully anticipate. These readings remind us that God’s work in the world and in our lives is often gradual, mysterious, and transformative. Like the mustard seed, our faith may start small, but with patience and trust, it can grow into something extraordinary. As we navigate our own spiritual journeys, let us embrace the pilgrimage of faith, trusting that God is always at work, even when we cannot see it. May we, like the mustard seed, become a source of shelter and hope for others, reflecting the boundless love and mercy of God’s kingdom.