Walk by Faith and Not by Sight

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time: June 16, 2024

Readings: Ezekiel 17:22-24; Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10; Mark 4:26-34

 To listen to the audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/7qs1aKcdWqw?si=KmBmgEjwsh8DjfYy

The world that we live in is messy. However, we make our life, despite all the uncomfortable situations that we see around us. There is something or someone, who makes our living on this earth possible. God who created us sustains us and gives us all the strength to carry out the mission that he has entrusted to each one of us. In other words, God has given us the task and a vocation to fulfil it. This is what we see in all the liturgical readings of this Sunday.

1. Trust and partnership in the Divine Process

In Mark 4:26-34, Jesus shares two parables about the Kingdom of God: the Parable of the Growing Seed and the Parable of the Mustard Seed. These parables invite us to reflect on the ways of God's doings in our lives and the world. This parable tells us that spiritual growth and the unfolding of God's Kingdom are often hidden and beyond our full understanding. Like the seed that sprouts and grows unseen, God's work within us and in the world often happens quietly and mysteriously. 

Our role is to scatter the seed—share God's love, perform acts of kindness, and live out our faith. We may not always see immediate results, but we are called to trust in the divine process. Patience and faith are essential as we believe that, in God's timing, the harvest will come. We are invited to participate actively in God's work, knowing that while we plant and water, God gives the increase. This perspective encourages us to engage wholeheartedly in our spiritual practices and acts of service, trusting that God is at work in and through us.

2. Small Beginnings, Great Outcomes

The mustard seed, though tiny, grows into a large plant. This parable speaks to the power of small beginnings and the potential for great outcomes. The work of God's Kingdom often starts in seemingly insignificant ways—small acts of kindness, simple prayers, quiet moments of faithfulness. Yet, these small seeds have the potential to grow into something magnificent and far-reaching. This encourages us not to despise small beginnings but to recognize their potential in God's hands.

The mustard plant provides shelter for the birds of the air, symbolizing the inclusivity and hospitality of God's Kingdom. The Kingdom of God grows to become a place of refuge, welcome, and community for all. This calls us to cultivate communities that are open, compassionate, and supportive. As our faith grows, it should naturally extend outward, offering shelter and blessing to others.

3. God, at the center of our lives

In Ezekiel 17:22-24 we can see God's power to restore and renew. God promises to take a tender shoot from a cedar and plant it on a high mountain, where it will grow into a majestic tree, offering shelter and sustenance to birds of all kinds. In times when we feel broken or diminished, God can take even the smallest, most fragile parts of our lives and transform them into sources of strength and beauty. Under God's care and guidance, we too can flourish. For this, we must trust in God's promises. He is always working for our good, even when we cannot see the full picture.

We see God's inclusive and expansive love. We are called to build—a place where all can find refuge, support, and belonging regardless of their background or circumstances. It challenges us to create environments in our churches, communities, and relationships that reflect this divine hospitality and care, ensuring that everyone feels valued and protected. When we feel spiritually dry or when our communities seem lifeless, we can have hope that God can bring renewal and growth. He can bring new life to the most desolate situations, filling them with His presence and purpose.

Questions for self-reflection

1. Are there areas in my life that feel spiritually dry or barren? How can I invite God to bring renewal and growth to those areas?
2. How can I develop a deeper trust in God’s sovereignty and faithfulness, especially when facing uncertainty or change?
3. How inclusive and welcoming is my community (family, church, social circle)? What steps can I take to ensure everyone feels valued and protected?

Prayer based on Psalm 92

Heavenly Father,

I come before You with a heart full of praise and gratitude. It is good to give thanks to You, O Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High. In the quiet of the morning, I proclaim Your steadfast love, and in the stillness of the night, I reflect on Your faithfulness.

Lord, plant me firmly in Your house, so that I may flourish in Your courts. Help me to bear fruit even in my old age, keeping my spirit fresh and green. May my life be a testimony to Your righteousness, declaring that You, O Lord, are upright, my Rock, and in You, there is no wickedness. May my days be filled with songs of praise and my nights with the peace of Your presence. In Your holy name Jesus, I pray, Amen.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

June 14, 2024