Daily Readings - Sun Jun 13 2021
Ezekiel
22"'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain.23On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches.24All the trees of the field will know that I the LORD bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. "'I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.'"
2 Corinthians
6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.7We live by faith, not by sight.8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Mark
26He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.27Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.28All by itself the soil produces grain--first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.29As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."30Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it?31It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground.32Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade."33With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.34He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.
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.