Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Intro the parables!

Welcome back for another edition of deacon rudy’s notes! I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and together we’re going to break open the Word!

Once again this weekend we enter into the fascinating world of the parables. Today we explore the mystery of growth and harvest; hidden and present.

The readings this weekend are thought-provoking, especially when seen in the light of the Gospel. There is certainly the theme of growth and harvest. Growth can refer to our spiritual journey from accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior to a conversion in how we live our lives. That applies to each of us as individuals and to all of us as a community of believers.

But there are words of warning woven into our readings this weekend. The harvest, for example, can point to judgment, what the Church calls universal and particular. It is universal in that everyone will be judged. It is particular in that each one of us as individuals will be judged. <1> Our second reading from Paul certainly reminds us judgment.

I think it’s easy to get confused by Paul’s writings today, but we must remember that we need to interpret Scripture in the context of the whole. So, we must consider this passage from 2 Corinthians in the light of all Paul’s writing and in the light of all Scripture seen through the lens of the Gospel. While we are saved by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we will be judged by what we did with time we were given after salvation.

What does that mean? Intro the parables.

In the parables both what we hear Jesus in the Gospel and the image of the cedar in the first reading shed some light on this question. A tender shoot (Ezekiel 17:22) and from tiny seeds (Mark 4:26-27, 31-32) plants, shrubs and trees grow. We don’t know how. We don’t need to know how. They just blossom and grow.

Now the Church teaches that there are many ways for us to consider these readings. We could look at ourselves as the soil. What kind of soil are you? We can look at ourselves as the fruit of the farmer’s work, as we mentioned before. But there is another image we could also consider rooted in our discipleship.

What is a disciple? A disciple is someone who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. A disciple is someone who grows in their relationship with Jesus through learning and spiritual formation. And a disciple is someone who spreads the Good News.

My brothers and sisters, we disciples spread seed – we cast the Good News everywhere we go. We can interpret the farmer – us – as the missionary preacher. “…interpret the farmer as a missionary preacher…” <2>

It’s not up to us to know the condition of the soil. And it’s not up to us to understand if and how the seed will take root and grow. In our data-driven, results-oriented world, we want to measure everything. How effective is this program or that one? But the parables remind us that our task – a proof of our conversion – is to plant seeds – just plant the seeds.

Now don’t worry! You don’t need a special degree or certification to evangelize – to be a missionary disciple. You certainly could, but it’s not required. What’s required is a willingness to share the love we have for the Trinity with other people starting with those closest to us. The sainted Mother Teresa once said, “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.”

It takes love. In our culture, we often hear people say, “Live and let live,” or “Don’t bother me and I won’t bother you,” or “Why should we care what happens to them?” It takes love to show concern for others and try to cast seed in their direction. Love is most definitely a fruit of our conversion. It also takes trust because we don’t need to know how things turn out.

Look at the example of the cedar tree in our first reading from Ezekiel or the mustard shrub in the Gospel. From tiny beginnings they provide shelter for birds. Take your parish, for example. The seed could be the Word of God, but the seeds could also be our parish facilities. Our facilities can create opportunities for an encounter with Jesus and transformation.

You might think it was a waste of money to build that church or to build that building. Who uses those classrooms? But what we don’t see are all the people who benefit from our facilities. And that is one of the most important messages of the parables. “…God intends to disclose what is now hidden and to reveal the fulness of God’s reign as light, harvest, and shelter for all people. (emphasis in the original) <3>

Homework! Nourished by the Word of God and the Eucharist, I invite you to reflect on the following two questions. First, how can I help share the Good News of Jesus Christ? Second, what are some things I can do to help my pastor and parish share the Good News?

I think doing our homework will help us grow as disciples. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

You’re listening to deacon rudy’s notes. Thank you for joining me today. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join me again next weekend as we break open the Word. Peace!

Image: Trees of Mt. Pilatus. Deacon Rudy Villarreal. May 9, 2021. JPG.

Notes:
<1> Thomas D. Stegman, SJ, chap. Resurrection Hope (4:16-5:10), sec. Preparing for the Heavenly Home (5:6-10), Kindle.
<2> Mary Ann Beavis, chap. Mark 4:1-34 Interlude: Teaching in Parables, sec. Additional Sayings and Parables (4:21-32), Kindle.
<3> Dawn Ottoni Wilhelm, 118, Kindle.

Bibliography/Suggested Readings:
1. Beavis, Mary Ann. Mark. Paideia Commentaries on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2011. Kindle.
2. Healy, Mary. The Gospel of Mark. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008. Kindle.
3. Montague, George T. SM. Mark: A Popular Commentary on the Earliest Gospel. Steubenville, Ohio: Franciscan University Press, 1992.
4. Stegman, Thomas D. SJ. Second Corinthians. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2009. Kindle.
5. Wilhelm, Dawn Ottoni. Preaching the Gospel of Mark: Proclaiming the Power of God. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2008. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Announcing the Kingdom of God: 543-6
2. Parables: 546
3. Particular judgment (following death): 1021-22
4. Last judgment: 1038-41
5. The Kingdom grows by hearing the Word: 2653-4, 2660, 2716

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061321.cfm
Lectionary: 92

Reading 1
Ezekiel 17:22-24
Thus says the Lord GOD: I, too, will take from the crest of the cedar, from its topmost branches tear off a tender shoot, and plant it on a high and lofty mountain; on the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it. It shall put forth branches and bear fruit, and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it, every winged thing in the shade of its boughs. And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the LORD, bring low the high tree, lift high the lowly tree, wither up the green tree, and make the withered tree bloom. As I, the LORD, have spoken, so will I do.

Responsorial
Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16
R. (cf. 2a) Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praise to your name, Most High, To proclaim your kindness at dawn and your faithfulness throughout the night.
R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
The just one shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow. They that are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
They shall bear fruit even in old age; vigorous and sturdy shall they be, Declaring how just is the LORD, my rock, in whom there is no wrong.
R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

Reading 2
2 Corinthinas 5:6-10
Brothers and sisters: We are always courageous, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord. Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.

Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower. All who come to him will live forever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mark 4:26-34
Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and through it all the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.”

He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

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