Daily Readings - Sun Jun 13 2021

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 that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from Ezekiel presents a vision of a cedar tree, symbolizing God's ability to bring forth new life from humble beginnings. The twig planted by God grows into a mighty tree, offering shelter to all, illustrating God's transformative power and His ability to exalt the lowly. This serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the hope of renewal for His people. In the second reading, Paul's letter to the Corinthians encourages us to live by faith, trusting in God's plan even when the path is unclear. He reminds us that our actions have consequences and that we will be held accountable. This call to faith and accountability ties into the Gospel reading, where Jesus uses parables to describe the Kingdom of God. The seed that grows mysteriously and the mustard seed that becomes a great tree emphasize the Kingdom's gradual yet profound growth, highlighting the power of small, faithful actions. These readings together invite us to embrace humility and trust in God's plan. Just as the cedar and the mustard seed grow under God's care, our faith, though it may start small, can lead to significant spiritual growth. Let us cultivate humility, trusting that even our smallest efforts can yield abundant fruit. May we live with faith, knowing that God's grace can transform us and our world, leading us to a harvest of righteousness and peace.