Daily Readings - Sun Jun 16 2024
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
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.