2Corinthians 5.6-10
Mark 4.26-34
On this Eleventh Sunday of ordinary time, we are reminded that, as part of God's Kingdom, the church of Christ is like a tree planted by God in the world. Fr5om the smallest of all seeds, she becomes the noblest of trees and fills the earth. She is the physical evidence of God's Kingdom. So, like the birds of the air, we are called to make our home in her.
The first reading is message of hope and restoration. Through the prophet Ezekiel God promised to re-establish and elevate his people who were in exile in Babylon. This means that God wishes to transfer his people from a kingdom of oppression, poverty and misery to a kingdom of justice, prosperity and peace of mind.
this is obviously the kingdom of where Christ reigns as king and , as the fountain of life. This is the ki8ngdom where God wishes us to be. The church is the visible sing of this noble cedar or kingdom that gives refuge to all people.
In the second reading, Paul reminds us of the fact that we on a journey towards the ki8ngdom of God in order to be with Christ our lord and ki9ng. Hence, whether we are "living in the body or exiled from it, we should be focused on pleasing the Lord.
The journey to this kingdom is a journey which ,must be approached with faith and courage. Hence Paul reminds us; " Going as we do by faith and not by sight, we are full of confidence... and actually want to leave this body in order to be with Christ." On light of this, we must advance diligently in order to be admitted into this kingdom by Christ.
In today's Gospel, Christ used two parables to describe the kingdom of God. The Kingdom he invites us to is a simple and peaceful one. It is open to all who seek it with a sincere heart. The easiest way to enter into it is by sowing a seed faith in Christ. This is the key.
Hence, in the second parable, the mustard seed which is the smallest seed refers to our faith. "If you have faith like a grain of ,mustard seed... nothing will be impossible for you". This includes, entering the kingdom of God. However, it is important to note that, the authenticity or genuineness of our faith must be tested.
Faith grows and it does, it achieves great things. As it grows it leads us to Christ and consequently to his kingdom. Also, our faith draws others to Christ and to his church, the visible sign of God's Kingdom on earth.
How does our faith draw others to Christ? When we demonstrate or bear a good testimony of our individual and collective faith, the rest is great. Live could be touched and transformed. A few persons might come to believe in God. Also a youth might present himself for a particular sacrament and service in the church. A young couple might decide to normalize their marriage in the church. Someone might decide to give up a very old and bad habit, while another, might decide to forgive another.
These
may seem insignificant achievements, but the seed is growing. This consequently
leads to the growth of the church, the visible sign of God's Kingdom on earth.
As our faith grows, the church, the body of Christ grows and. more people are
drawn into the comfort of God's Kingdom.
