Daily Readings - Sun Jun 16 2024

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

The readings today invite us to reflect on the mystery of God’s plan and the call to trust in His providence. In the first reading from Ezekiel, we hear a powerful metaphor of the cedar tree. God takes a small twig from the top of a lofty cedar and plants it on the mountains of Israel, where it grows into a great tree, providing shelter for all the birds. This image speaks of God’s ability to humble the exalted and exalt the lowly, reminding us that His ways are not our ways, and His power is often revealed in the smallest and seemingly insignificant things. In the second reading from 2 Corinthians, St. Paul encourages us to live by faith and not by sight. He reminds us that our true home is with the Lord, and while we are on pilgrimage here on earth, we must strive to please Him in all we do. This is not about earning salvation but about living in such a way that we reflect the love and mercy of God. The judgment seat of Christ is not a source of fear but a call to live with integrity and purpose, knowing that our actions have consequences. The Gospel from 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, until it is ready for harvest. The second likens the kingdom to a mustard seed, the smallest of seeds, which grows into a tree large enough to provide shelter for the birds. These parables teach us about the hidden and gradual nature of God’s work. They remind us to trust in the power of small, everyday acts of faith and love, for it is through these that the kingdom of God takes root and grows in our lives and in the world. These readings together call us to humility, patience, and trust. They remind us that God’s plan unfolds in ways we may not always understand or see immediately. Like the mustard seed, our faith may seem small, but with patience and care, it can grow into something extraordinary. Let us embrace the mystery of God’s work in our lives, trusting that even in the smallest and most hidden ways, He is bringing about a harvest of love and life. May we live with confidence in His providence, knowing that our efforts, no matter how small, contribute to the growth of His kingdom.