16 June, 2024 | Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Reading1: Ez 17:22-24 |  Reading2: 2 Cor 5:6-10

Gospel Mk 4:26-34

Jesus said to the crowds:

“This is how it is with the kingdom of God;

it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land

and would sleep and rise night and day

and through it all the seed would sprout and grow,

he knows not how.

Of its own accord the land yields fruit,

first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once,

for the harvest has come.”

He said,

“To what shall we compare the kingdom of God,

or what parable can we use for it?

It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground,

is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.

But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants

and puts forth large branches,

so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”

With many such parables

he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.

Without parables he did not speak to them,

but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

Reflection: 

 Jesus used contextual examples from nature in order to explain to the people the intricate detailing of the  Kingdom of God.  

God is perfect and perfection.  We go to sleep at night, yet God ensures several tasks are completed in the nature during that time.  We wake up to a beautiful new day and we see how God has prepared a wondrous scene of marvellous creativity bringing out splendour and awe from amongst so many living beings.

Jesus says a person can scatter seeds on the land, yet it is God who sprouts it and grows it into a fruit-bearing tree.  He also likens his parables to those seeds and hopes that it will make those listening to think about them and allow God’s Holy Spirit to work through them, so as to bear rich fruits through their good deeds.  

Activity:

 Take some time off from your schedule to pay attention to the wonders that God has specially worked for you in your person, your place of residence, nature in general.  Give God the glory, thanks and praise for them all.

Reflections: Parimala Selvaraj (Pauline Cooperator)

Voice: AI

Digitization: Pauline Sisters