(Audio recorded live, 13 June 2021)

Readings:

Ez. 17:22-24; Ps. 92; 2 Cor. 5:6-10; Mk. 4:26-34

Today’s Gospel, and indeed all our readings focus our attention on the Kingdom of God. The Lord provides us with vivid images of cedar saplings growing tall and branching out, and tiny seeds growing into large plants. In other words, these examples not only show us how expansive the Kingdom of God is, but also what is required for all who hope to dwell there: Faith. St. Paul says, “we walk by faith, not by sight,” and while we can see the trees and plants described in today’s readings, it is with eyes of faith that we see the Kingdom.

Jesus’ example of the man scattering seed is an example of having faith. He says the man goes to sleep and wakes up each day as the seed grows, but he does not know how. In other words, the man just has faith that with the proper conditions, the seed he plants will grow. And when it is ripe, he harvests the crop and rejoices, as the Psalmist does, saying, “Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.”

One challenge for people today is that many of these kinds of parables are a bit lost. Most will appreciate the meaning, but everyone in Jesus’ day was growing something—it was necessary just to survive. And as we ponder the miracle of growth, from the seed, to the blade, the ear, then the grain, perhaps we can appreciate even more the Bread of Life we will receive today, which begins as a tiny seed, grows to grain we harvest, and is made into the bread we share, offered to God, and transformed into the Body and Blood of Jesus.

Our faith, then, draws us to this place of worship; our faith, enables us to be in the presence of Jesus Christ; our faith, sustains us to eternal life. And that is what our worship is all about. To live eternally with God in the Kingdom. What greater promise could ever have been made? Yet, this is the promise of our Lord: To enable our faith to grow, from something small, like a mustard seed, to something large, like a cedar tree, that branches out, touches our neighbors, providing comfort and shade, and a beautiful place to dwell. Just as these plants grow, so too does our faith, provided we remain on the vine, we remain in Christ.

So, as we turn to the celebration of the Eucharist, may our communion today, be a sign of our faith, leading us closer to Christ, transforming us from within, so that we may branch out in the world, and the Kingdom of God, growing within us, will touch the hearts and lives of everyone we encounter.

Given during the COVID-19 pandemic.