By Fr. Andrew Kelly
ELEVENTH SUNDAY ORDINAL TIME – JUNE 17, 2012
On Sundays the risen Jesus gathers the disciples. Through Scriptures, Jesus tells stories and parables about the mysterious yet awesome presence of God in the most ordinary events of life. In Sunday’s Gospel (Mark 4:26-34), seeds are the images Jesus uses. A seed is slowly transformed “…first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head.” Just as seeds grow, so God grows the kingdom. But God sets the rhythms and patterns at God’s speed and cannot be rushed. Instead, believers wait patiently, faithfully and hope-filled as God’s kingdom breaks forth.
A small mustard seed grows into a huge shrub putting “… forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” The kingdom began within the smallest of communities. But in God’s good time the world, like the birds, will flock toward the kingdom seeking God’s shade.
Sunday, as the Scriptures are proclaimed, Jesus “… explained everything in private to his disciples.”
The hard part is sitting still and listening silently to Jesus. If the community never listens, hope disappears. It will never understand the awesome mystery of God’s kingdom growing every moment in the lives of believers.
(Father Andrew Kelly is a retired priest of the Diocese of Davenport.)
Scripture Readings for June 17-24
Sunday
Ez 17:22-24
2 Cor 5:6-10
Mk 4:26-34
Monday
1 Kgs 21:1-16
Mt 5:38-42
Tuesday
1 Kgs 21:17-29
Mt 5:43-48
Wednesday
2 Kgs 2:1, 6-14
Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
Thursday
Sir 48:1-14
Mt 6:7-15
Friday
2 Kgs 11:1-4, 9-18, 20
Mt 6:19-23
Saturday
2 Chr 24:17-25
Mt 6:24-34
Sunday
Is 49:1-6
Acts 13:22-26
Lk 1:57-66, 80
