Sunday Sermon for June 16, 2024, the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Readings: Ez 17:22-24; 2 Cor 5:6-10; Mk 4:26-34
In the Gospel reading today, Jesus tells us the Kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed that eventually sprouts, grows, and produces fruit. He goes on to say the Kingdom of God is also like a mustard seed that is planted, grows, and becomes a shrub that is large enough for the birds to nest in it.
Two millennia ago, the people did not have the scientific knowledge that we possess of how seeds germinate. But even though we have some knowledge of this today, it is still a mystery that fills us with joy, hope, and awe. Most of us have had the experience of planting a seed only to marvel as the sprout begins to shoot through the surface. We watch it carefully each day, noting the growth and the changes that have taken place. Knowledge learned in a science class does not lessen the awe.
With time, we might lose the enthusiasm we had when the seed first began to sprout, but we still marvel at the buds, the flowers, and the fruit. Even if we know something about how seeds germinate, most of the process is still a mystery that intrigues and amazes us. If this is true about something on the natural level that we can see and measure, then our awe should be far greater when we apply this to the spiritual realm where, as St. Paul says in the second reading, “We walk by faith, not by sight.”
God has planted His Word, His Kingdom, His love within us. As it is with our gardens, we can water, hoe, prune, but most of what happens is not in our control. In the spiritual life, we can pray, work on growth in virtue, and detach from the things of the world, but most of the movement in the spiritual life is beyond our control. God will lead us along the way that will be best for our growth in holiness. Most often it does not look to us like this is the best, but God knows our potential and by what means we can best fulfill this potential.
We tend to compare ourselves with others and think the way God is leading them is better than the way He is leading us. Occasionally we see a suffering soul and feel grateful that is not us, but we usually prefer to look at the people whose lives seem comparatively easy and think we are getting a bad deal. Coming back to the natural level, think about someone with a green thumb. The person might have flower gardens, fruit trees, and a vegetable garden. The appearance of each is very different, even among the flowers, fruits, or vegetable plants.
The experienced gardener knows that plants cannot all be treated the same way. Yes, all of them need to be watered and fertilized, but some do better in different conditions, or they need a different kind of nutrient, or they need more or less water. The manner of growing potatoes and tomatoes is very different. If they were treated the same way, the harvest would not be great because the plants did not get what they needed to achieve their potential.
Only God knows our potential. He also knows the way that will allow us to achieve the greatest growth and fruitfulness. Like plants in a garden, some need direct sun while others need shade. Some need one type of fertilizer while others require something different. Those who labor in the hot sun might think being in the shade looks like the life of leisure. Those who require manure for fertilizer might think those who get tea leaves are being babied along. On the other hand, those who need the tea leaves might be incredibly grateful they are not getting the manure treatment.
We need to trust that God knows what is truly the best for us. If plants had the ability to communicate, they might not be too impressed when the compost, manure, or other fertilizer is applied. They might whine and complain about their circumstances, just like we tend to do. But when the harvest arrives, they will be laden with beautiful fruit or bright with gorgeous flowers.
God has planted the seed of His Kingdom within us. Have we cooperated? If He wants to make the withered tree bloom, as we hear in the first reading, He will need to care for it in the way that will cause the tree to be invigorated. If He wants us to bear abundant fruit, He needs to care for us in the way that will be best to bring this about. Trust Him as He leads you through the circumstances of your life to become like a majestic cedar, that is, a great saint!
Fr. Altier’s column appears regularly in The Wanderer, a national Catholic weekly published in St. Paul, Minn. For information about subscribing to The Wanderer, please visit www.thewandererpress.com.
