Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 13, 2021
First Reading: Ezekiel 17.22-24
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.
Psalm 92
1It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:2To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,3Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.4For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.5O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.6A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.7When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:8But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore.9For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.10But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.11Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.12The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.13Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.14They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;15To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5.6-10
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.
Gospel: Mark 4.26-34
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 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.