Walking with Jesus: 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Ezekiel 17:22-24; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10; Mark 4:26-34

We are beginning the portion of Gospel readings that tells us more of God’s plan for each of us, the world, and people of all times. It would seem a simple directive, but none of us is simple in our makeup. In this we fight against our culture, which demands quick, fast, accurate and pleasing answers for everything. Ads urge us to have beautiful skin ... hair ... shape and form. We want to have the secrets to lose weight ... to have perfect abs ... to have perfect teeth ... to swallow the perfect pill that accomplishes all we want ... spray the right product ... download the right app ... do this and it’s all done in seconds. In a word, the bottom line message from our consumerist culture brainwashes us that all good things can be accomplished instantly — or sooner. In reality, we know for certain that God doesn’t work this way.

Sunday Homily Helps expresses it this way:

God’s time vs. our time. a) “Days are coming,” says the Lord, “when [something good] will happen.” This is a favorite expression of Amos, Jeremiah, and the Letter to the Hebrews. b) Our reactions: “Great — but when? We could use it now!” Our instant gratification training kicks in, sometimes making us doubt that God will fulfill the promise. c) Those “days that are coming” may not arrive in our lifetime, but they will come. We must accept that. “For who has known the mind of the Lord?” [Romans 11:34]

How do we learn about God? How do we realize that God is with us, leading us always closer to Himself and our eternal goal — heaven, life with God forever? This takes a lifetime of discerning the “aha” moments where God is sharing His life, beauty, presence and love with us. This takes patience on our part. We want good things for our loved ones and ourselves. We want to overcome a habitual habit or sin. We want health and happiness and the time to enjoy them. We want good things for others: a return to the faith, healing of physical ailments and addictions, relief from debt, employment, a happy life and so on. Where is God? God is with us every moment and every step of the way. Our readings help us today with discovering this God who loves us every moment.

Earlier in Ezekiel there is an allegory about Babylon and Judah.  An eagle (King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon) plucks a shoot (Jehoiachin, king of Judah) from the top of a cedar tree (the royal house of David) and carries it to a distant land. The prophet is telling us that Babylon has been victorious over Judah and its king will be exiled. Today Ezekiel changes it around, saying God will pluck a tender shoot from a towering cedar. The prophet is assuring the people that David’s royal house will survive. God will bring the exiles back home. The tender shoot (Israel) will grow into a giant tree towering over all the trees in the forest. God’s people will serve as a model of faith, teaching all the other nations. So all must turn to God, follow His ways and eternal plan, and be teachers and leaders so others will see God in us.

Paul is telling the Corinthians that discipleship brings with it many trials. As with us, living with their trials will be difficult; we complain but we are to walk in faith that God is with us all the time.  We might not see Him or feel His care and love, but God is always within us. We must learn patience as we grow daily. St. Mother Teresa said it perfectly: “God did not call me to be successful; God called me to be faithful.” It’s not that I didn’t try hard enough or that my prayers were not successful, it’s rather living the parable of hope. Bette Midler sings this so beautifully in The Rose:

Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snows
Lies the seed that with the sun’s love
In the spring becomes the rose.

Jesus speaks two parables to explain the mysterious nature of the Kingdom of God. Both focus on the hidden process wherein plants grow and humans cannot control. We do nurture the growth of the seeds. We have a part to play. The Kingdom of God is like the seeds that grow of their own accord. We want to tell God, “come on get moving.” We are not in charge of transformation. But we can water. We can prune. We work hard, but God and the mystery of His love is all-embracing and encompassing ... and it works. Let God be God.

So I reflect on:

• It’s hard to wait. Sometimes we want to jump up and down. We want to be in control. We want things to happen yesterday. Does our fretting and impatience reflect our lack of trust?
• Just because the kingdom of God is a mystery does not mean that we don’t have our part. Soil conditions are up to us ... watering is up to us ... we are partners with God in the growth of the Kingdom. Ask yourself, what does God want me to do today? Then listen. OK?

Sacred Space 2021 states:

“Simple things we say or do can have a big influence. One person can affect many, even without knowing it. Like good seed growing underground, the kingdom of God grows of its own impetus in the world, and nobody can stop it. God is the God of here, there and everywhere. Seeds may sprout anywhere in the field, and the kingdom can find its way into the lives of individuals and communities in ways that may surprise us. The mustard seed becomes a tree for all; the kingdom of God is for every man, woman, and child. Have you brought something of the kingdom of God — of love and peace, prayer and faith, justice and hope — when you didn’t recognize it? Let that fill your mind and heart with gratitude as you pray.”