20210613 CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE
13 June, 2021, Sunday, 11th Week, Ordinary Time
First reading |
Ezekiel 17:22-24 © |
I will plant a shoot on the high mountain of Israel
The Lord says this:
‘From the top of the cedar,
from the highest branch I will take a shoot
and plant it myself on a very high mountain.
I will plant it on the high mountain of Israel.
It will sprout branches and bear fruit,
and become a noble cedar.
Every kind of bird will live beneath it,
every winged creature rest in the shade of its branches.
And every tree of the field will learn that I, the Lord, am the one
who stunts tall trees and makes the low ones grow,
who withers green trees and makes the withered green.
I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it.’
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 91(92):2-3,13-16 © |
It is good to give you thanks, O Lord.
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to make music to your name, O Most High,
to proclaim your love in the morning
and your truth in the watches of the night.
It is good to give you thanks, O Lord.
The just will flourish like the palm tree
and grow like a Lebanon cedar.
It is good to give you thanks, O Lord.
Planted in the house of the Lord
they will flourish in the courts of our God,
still bearing fruit when they are old,
still full of sap, still green,
to proclaim that the Lord is just.
In him, my rock, there is no wrong.
It is good to give you thanks, O Lord.
Second reading |
2 Corinthians 5:6-10 © |
We want to be exiled from the body and make our home with the Lord
We are always full of confidence when we remember that to live in the body means to be exiled from the Lord, going as we do by faith and not by sight – we are full of confidence, I say, and actually want to be exiled from the body and make our home with the Lord. Whether we are living in the body or exiled from it, we are intent on pleasing him. For all the truth about us will be brought out in the law court of Christ, and each of us will get what he deserves for the things he did in the body, good or bad.
Gospel Acclamation | Jn15:15 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
I call you friends, says the Lord,
because I have made known to you
everything I have learnt from my Father.
Alleluia!
Or: |
Alleluia, alleluia!
The seed is the word of God, Christ the sower;
whoever finds this seed will remain for ever.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Mark 4:26-34 © |
The kingdom of God is a mustard seed growing into the biggest shrub of all
Jesus said to the crowds: ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man throws seed on the land. Night and day, while he sleeps, when he is awake, the seed is sprouting and growing; how, he does not know. Of its own accord the land produces first the shoot, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the crop is ready, he loses no time: he starts to reap because the harvest has come.’
He also said, ‘What can we say the kingdom of God is like? What parable can we find for it? It is like a mustard seed which at the time of its sowing in the soil is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.’
Using many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, so far as they were capable of understanding it. He would not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything to his disciples when they were alone.
CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Ezk 17:22-24; Ps 92:2-3,13-16; 2 Cor 5:6-10; Mk 4:26-34]
What is the outcome of secularism for the world today? We have a world that no longer believes in God, a world without values, a world without direction and hope of a future. Humanity is living in despair as their own hope is this life, if at all. Even then, this life is fraught with uncertainties, fears and divisions. Terrorism and wars are always waiting to happen because of international conflicts and religious fanaticism. Whether we are poor or affluent, life has no meaning, no purpose, other than to work, enjoy and die. When there is no hope beyond this life, there is also little motivation to do good, to care for others, to make sacrifices for the future generation. There are people who question why they should bother having children when they are only bringing them into the world to suffer. Why save the lives of those who are not productive in society? Best to let them die and be freed of their misery! We can understand the growing number of suicides and endorsement of euthanasia because we are measured by utility.
This was what happened to the Israelites in the first reading. They lost their land, their temple and their king. This meant the end of the Davidic kingdom. They were sent into exile in Babylon. This was a fulfillment of the vision of the two eagles plummeting Israel. These two eagles were Egypt and Babylon. But even in their captivity, Ezekiel prophesied that God would make Israel grow again. “From the top of the cedar, from the highest branch I will take a shoot and plant it myself on a very high mountain. I will plant it on the high mountain of Israel. It will sprout branches and bear fruit, and become a noble cedar. Every kind of bird will live beneath it, every winged creature rest in the shade of its branches.” This would happen under the reign of Emperor Cyrus, King of Persia, when he ended the Babylonian captivity and allowed the Israelites to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their Temple and their homes. Even then, Israel’s hope was still too restricted and nationalistic. They were still thinking of rebuilding Israel and the kingdom. Their hope was still very much in this world, and in a political sense.
The truth is that our hope for the future determines very much how we live our lives today. We always live in hope for a better future. Why do we study hard if not to secure a place in university, find a good career after graduation, and afford the luxuries of life? Why are we patriotic if not for the good of our countrymen and ourselves so that the country can make progress, and there will be peace, prosperity and harmony? But why do we do good and make sacrifices for others when our life is so short? Why not we take care of ourselves first and enjoy the pleasures of life while we can because with death, all that we have would be no more? What is the use of leaving behind a legacy or be remembered in history when we will no longer be around to share the joy of impacting humanity? This is why without faith in God, humanity has no future, not even in this world, because everything has no value since nothing lasts, not even beautiful relationships with our loved ones. In the end, when we see our loved ones departing from us, our health getting weaker each day, all our wealth and achievements would mean nothing to us. What hope is there for one who has no faith in God?
St Paul was very focused. He was able to live life to the fullest, here and now simply because he lived from the future. He knew that our life on this earth is but a transition. He made it clear that those who reject God, “Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.” (Phil 3:19-21) Paul writes, “We are always full of confidence when we remember that to live in the body means to be exiled from the Lord, going as we do by faith and not by sight – we are full of confidence, I say, and actually want to be exiled from the body and make our home with the Lord.”
Indeed, St Paul was clear that our true home is with the Lord. If we are truly sons and daughters of God, sharing in Christ’s sonship, then our family is with God. Only in God can we find true happiness and eternal rest. If St Paul was so full of confidence and hope, and also positive towards the adversities of life, it was because he never lost hope in the future. He knew the future was in the hands of God and that even in the face of difficulties, one should not become weary or lose heart. Paul was aware that so long as we are in our body, we are away from the Lord. This explains why Paul did not see death as his enemy but a friend.
He welcomed death not just in today’s text. Writing to the Philippians, he said, “Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.” (Phil 1:20-26) Indeed, when we have that perspective of life with Jesus upon death, we begin to live fully here and now because we want to share that life with Jesus. But in order to be with the Lord, we must already allow Him to make His home in us. “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” (Jn 14:23) It is immaterial whether we live or we die. To the Romans, Paul said, “We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” (Rom 14:7-9)
Paul also reminds us of the judgment that will take place at the end of our life. “For all the truth about us will be brought out in the law court of Christ, and each of us will get what he deserves for the things he did in the body, good or bad.” Jesus did warn us as well, “the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out – those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” (Jn 5:28f) A Christian therefore lives from the future, which is already given to us in Christ’s death and resurrection. It is this future life that determines how he lives today. As Paul said, “whether we are living in the body or exiled from it, we are intent on pleasing him.” When we love the Lord and when we desire to be in full union with Him, we seek to please Him here and now by living the kind of life that He has taught us.
Until we reach the end, our spiritual life will be a process whereby we cooperate with the grace of God. Today’s two parables remind us of the grace of God at work in our lives. The first parable speaks of the miraculous growth of a seed into a plant. God too has sowed His word in us. But how it takes root and grow in one’s heart itself is both the grace of God and our receptivity. We cannot force growth to happen because a person is unique. We can only provide the ambience and the resources. Some will respond faster, some slower and some not at all, even when given the best opportunities. “A man throws seed on the land. Night and day, while he sleeps, when he is awake, the seed is sprouting and growing; how, he does not know.” God is patient with us but a time will come when judgment will take place. “When the crop is ready, he loses no time; he starts to reap because the harvest has come.”
Secondly, we must remain patient. This is what the second parable of the mustard seed is reminding us. The people thought the kingdom would come in a radical way through conquest and invasion. Sometimes, conversion and growth come unexpectedly. A person could suddenly take a radical turn in his life, for good or for worse. But in most cases, growth will take time. If we are patient and allow the person to grow in grace and continue to provide the person the necessary ambience, love and encouragement, grace will work in its own way, slowly but surely. “It is like a mustard seed which at the time of its sowing in the soil is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.” So, we should not be discouraged as we work for the growth of the kingdom, the transformation of society and humanity and our own spiritual conversion to the Lord. Let us be patient, do our best and entrust our work to God who is the One who makes the seed and plant grow.
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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