Jun
15
2018
By Anonymous (not verified)
View the readings for this Sunday.
Sunday, June 17 - 11th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Ez 17:22-24
Ps 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16
2 Cor 5:6-10
Mk 4:26-34
To become fully alive, we must trust in the Lord's power to grow us into the men and women He created us to be.
This Sunday in the Gospel reading, Jesus says, "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" (Mk 4:26-29).
In other words, we do not have the power to make a seed grow. We can plant it, water it, give it sunlight, and protect it, but its transformation from seed to harvest remains in God's hands. In the face of slow growth, we must stay patient and never allow ourselves to become discouraged.
This parable, of course, speaks to our development as Catholic Christians.
Unfortunately, we tend to stand in the way of the Lord's power to bring us to full maturity as men and women in Christ.
Instead of scattering the seed and going to sleep as the farmer in the parable, we often, metaphorically, plant the seed, sit beside it, stare at the dirt, and say, "Grow!"
When it doesn't immediately sprout into a beautiful plant, we allow ourselves to become anxious and assume that we must have done something wrong. Often, we accuse others of our perceived failure.
Never forget that God alone inspires growth. He alone sustains our beating hearts. And only He can lead us to joy and peace. But He needs us to allow Him to take us there.
To see more of God's blessings in our lives, we must seek His will above all else and trust that He has the best in mind for us. The Lord needs us to believe that He is love, mercy, power, goodness, and compassion itself.
As Jesus says to St. Faustina in her Diary, "Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy" (300).
So trust Him.
Let go of all the ways you've not acted as a good farmer. In other words, remain patient, all the while letting God take control of your life, day to day, moment by moment.
As Jesus says to St. Faustina in her Diary, "My child, know that the greatest obstacles to holiness are discouragement and an exaggerated anxiety" (1488).
So relinquish your anxieties, insecurities, self-doubt, self-hatred, and refusal to forgive. And if you realize that's too hard to do by your own power, then you've learned your first lesson.
Only God can heal disordered hearts and minds.
So instead of trying and failing to fix everything by your power, turn yourself over to Christ's fertile garden: Be immersed in the Sacraments. Confess your sins at least once a month. Receive Christ in the Eucharist often. Set aside time regularly to pray. Commit to performing at least one act of mercy daily.
And if you're still going through hell, keep going.
Put your life into the hands of the merciful Father. He will take your seed of faith - the size of a mustard seed (see Mk 4:30-32) - and make it grow into a sturdy tree with branches full enough to become a place of blessing for His creatures.
The Lord wants to make you into the person He created you to be - fully alive, filled with His peace.
Let Him.
Do not become discouraged. Growth happens gradually. No gardener would dig up his tomato seeds in impatience mere days after planting them.
Progress will seem imperceptible day to day. But do not give up. Month to month, year to year, decade to decade, you will see His fruit in your life. And at the end of it all, He will make you a new creation, and you will reign with Him for all eternity.
View the previous Sunday Scripture Preview.
Sunday, June 17 - 11th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Ez 17:22-24
Ps 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16
2 Cor 5:6-10
Mk 4:26-34
To become fully alive, we must trust in the Lord's power to grow us into the men and women He created us to be.
This Sunday in the Gospel reading, Jesus says, "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" (Mk 4:26-29).
In other words, we do not have the power to make a seed grow. We can plant it, water it, give it sunlight, and protect it, but its transformation from seed to harvest remains in God's hands. In the face of slow growth, we must stay patient and never allow ourselves to become discouraged.
This parable, of course, speaks to our development as Catholic Christians.
Unfortunately, we tend to stand in the way of the Lord's power to bring us to full maturity as men and women in Christ.
Instead of scattering the seed and going to sleep as the farmer in the parable, we often, metaphorically, plant the seed, sit beside it, stare at the dirt, and say, "Grow!"
When it doesn't immediately sprout into a beautiful plant, we allow ourselves to become anxious and assume that we must have done something wrong. Often, we accuse others of our perceived failure.
Never forget that God alone inspires growth. He alone sustains our beating hearts. And only He can lead us to joy and peace. But He needs us to allow Him to take us there.
To see more of God's blessings in our lives, we must seek His will above all else and trust that He has the best in mind for us. The Lord needs us to believe that He is love, mercy, power, goodness, and compassion itself.
As Jesus says to St. Faustina in her Diary, "Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy" (300).
So trust Him.
Let go of all the ways you've not acted as a good farmer. In other words, remain patient, all the while letting God take control of your life, day to day, moment by moment.
As Jesus says to St. Faustina in her Diary, "My child, know that the greatest obstacles to holiness are discouragement and an exaggerated anxiety" (1488).
So relinquish your anxieties, insecurities, self-doubt, self-hatred, and refusal to forgive. And if you realize that's too hard to do by your own power, then you've learned your first lesson.
Only God can heal disordered hearts and minds.
So instead of trying and failing to fix everything by your power, turn yourself over to Christ's fertile garden: Be immersed in the Sacraments. Confess your sins at least once a month. Receive Christ in the Eucharist often. Set aside time regularly to pray. Commit to performing at least one act of mercy daily.
And if you're still going through hell, keep going.
Put your life into the hands of the merciful Father. He will take your seed of faith - the size of a mustard seed (see Mk 4:30-32) - and make it grow into a sturdy tree with branches full enough to become a place of blessing for His creatures.
The Lord wants to make you into the person He created you to be - fully alive, filled with His peace.
Let Him.
Do not become discouraged. Growth happens gradually. No gardener would dig up his tomato seeds in impatience mere days after planting them.
Progress will seem imperceptible day to day. But do not give up. Month to month, year to year, decade to decade, you will see His fruit in your life. And at the end of it all, He will make you a new creation, and you will reign with Him for all eternity.
View the previous Sunday Scripture Preview.
ATHL