Daily Readings - Sun Jun 16 2024
Ezekiel
22Thus says the Lord GOD: "I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out. I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.23On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest.24And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the LORD; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it."
2 Corinthians
6So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,7for we walk by faith, not by sight.8Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.9So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Mark
26And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground.27He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.28The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.29But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."30And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it?31It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth,32yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade."33With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.34He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.
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.