GOSPEL POWER | JUNE 13, 2021 | SUNDAY | 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time 

 Gospel: Mk 4: 26 – 34

Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.” He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

Reflection

The Kingdom-parables of today’s Gospel offer an  assurance that God is at work among us, achieving the  divine purposes not in a spectacular way that is bound to  overwhelm us, but in hiddenness, much like the growth-potential of  a seed. The first reading tells us further that God works as he pleases,  in total freedom from human expectations, and often reversing those  expectations. We can trust that God is in control. And we are welladvised if we follow St. Paul who, in the second reading, speaks of  walking by faith, not by sight

Prayer

Lord Jesus, keep us aligned with God’s purposes and live day by day  in the faith that we are being led toward the fulfillment of our earthly  existence. Amen