Daily Readings - Sun Jun 17 2018
Ezekiel
22Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent:23In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.24And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.
2 Corinthians
6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:7For we walk by faith, not by sight:)8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.9Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Mark
26And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;27And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.28For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.29But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.30And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?31It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:32But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.33And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.34But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded 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.