Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Ez 17:22-24; 2Cor 5:6-10; Mk 4:26-34

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A young soldier found himself in a terrible and hopeless battle. The enemy was defeating this young man’s army. He and his comrades found themselves hastily retreating from the battle field in defeat, running away in fear for their very lives. The enemy gave chase. This young man ran hard and fast but soon found himself cut off from his comrades. He eventually came upon a rocky ledge containing a cave. After he crawled into the cave, he desperately prayed crying to God to save him and protect him from his enemies. When he looked up from his despairing plea for help, he saw a spider beginning to weave its web at the entrance of the cave. He thought, “I asked God for protection and deliverance, and he sent me a spider instead. How can a spider save me?” Soon he did hear the sound of his enemies. One soldier with a gun slowly walked up to the cave’s entrance. As the enemy cautiously moved forward to enter the cave, he came upon the spider’s web, which by now was completely strung across the opening. He backed away and called out to a comrade, “There can’t be anyone in here. They would have had to break this spider’s web to enter the cave. Let’s move on.” The young soldier was saved. 

This story reminds us that Insignificant and small things can be the greatest weapon of God in our lives and that in times of our suffering God is the only hope. Today’s readings reveal to us the greatness of God’s kingdom, universality of God’s love and hope in times of despair. 

Prophet Ezekiel, in the first reading, gives the message of hope to the people of Israel. Ezekiel was the prophet during the most difficult time of Israel’s history. During his time Israel was the victim of powerful neighbouring kingdoms – Egypt, Assyria and Babylon. When Babylonian army destroyed Jerusalem, people lost trust in God and turned away because people started believing that Yahweh had forgotten the promise. In this tumultuous situation God gives the message of the faithfulness of God to the people of Israel and the restoration from the destruction. 

In the gospel, Jesus speaks to us in parables. The parables present few imagery and they are quite puzzling to bare eyes. But for sure they reveal the greatest secrets of the Kingdom of God. Through the parable of ‘Growing seed’ and the Mustard Seed’, Jesus tells us three things: The kingdom of God starts with a small beginning, kingdom has a gradual development and Kingdom will have a splendid end. 

The parable of the growing seed tells us the mysterious source hidden in the seed. One cannot grasp its growing mechanisms in human mind. Likewise, the kingdom of God also is growing today with the power of God enabling so many labourers in the vineyard. The parable of the Mustard Seed commits us to all kinds of birds to nest on the tree. The kingdom which Jesus speaks to us is not exclusive to the ones who follow Jesus. Those who seek refuge in the Lord and do His will can make nests in the comfort of the kingdom.  Like the tiny mustard seed, Christianity was a small beginning and today it has grown mysteriously like the growing seed. 

Dear Friends, it is important for us to realize that 

-God is the master of this kingdom.

-This kingdom is not limited to a few privileged but rather to all who seek God.

-We are on a journey led by faith and every moment needs to be lived to please God.

-In our toughest phase of life master of this kingdom reaches out to us. 

Covid-19 has halted our lives. Like Ezekiel brought the message of hope to the people of Israel, in this context of ours, Jesus promises unconditional love to all of us with His message of the Kingdom. As St. Paul says, our life should be a journey of faith and pleasing to God which will help us on course to the kingdom which Jesus promised. 

(You are most welcome to add your thoughts and reflections in the comment section below)

Happy Sunday