June 14 - Eleventh Sunday of the Ordinary Time: God works in mysterious and surprising ways

 

First Reading  Ezekiel 17:22–24
I, the Lord, bring low the high tree and lift high the lowly tree.

Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 92:2–3,13–16
They that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.

Second Reading  2 Corinthians 5:6–10
The lives of all are to be revealed before the tribunal of Christ.

Gospel Reading
Mark 4:26–34

Today we read two of the three seed parables of Mark. All three are about seeds. The first parable tells about a farmer who planted seed. Some was planted in good soil, some in bad soil. Only the seed in the good soil bore fruit. This reveals that the kingdom can grow only in good hearts that are open to God. The second parable, which we read in today’s gospel, tells how seed grows beneath the soil without the farmer knowing how. It’s a mystery to him. This reveals that God’s kingdom grows in our heart in a marvellous, mysterious way, without our knowing how. The third parable, which we also read in today’s gospel, contrasts the tiny seed to the large beautiful plant that grows from it. This reveals that the tiny seed of the kingdom in our heart will eventually grow into something beautiful. It is from the smallest of all beginnings that great things will come. For all this to happen we must trust God and remain patient. If we trust God and remain patient, things will work out in God’ own time and in God’s own way.