＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Ezekiel 17:22-24

 Thus says Yahweh:

“At the top of the cedar I will take one of its uppermost branches, a tender twig and plant it.   On a lofty, massive mountain, on a high mountain of Israel I will plant it. It will produce branches and bear fruit and become a magificent cedar. Birds of all kinds will nest in it and find shelter in its branches.

 And all the trees of the field shall know that I am Yahweh, I who bring down the lofty tree and make the lowly tree tall. I will make the tree that is full of sap wither and the dry tree bloom. I, Yahweh, have spoken and this will I do.”

 

Ps 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16

Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

 

 ＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

2 Corinthians 5:6-10

 So we feel confident always. We know that while living in the body, we are exiled from the Lord,  living by faith, without seeing;  but we dare to think that we would rather be away from the body to go and live with the Lord.  So, whether we have to keep this house or lose it, we only wish to please the Lord.   Anyway we all have to appear before the tribunal of Christ for each one to receive what he deserves for his good or evil deeds in the present life.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊     

Mark 4:26-34

 Jesus also said, “In the kingdom of God it is like this. A man scatters seed upon the soil. Whether he is asleep or awake, be it day or night, the seed sprouts and grows, he knows not how. The soil produces of itself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when it is ripe for harvesting they take the sickle for the cutting: the time for harvest has come.”

 Jesus also said, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what shall we compare it?  It is like a mustard seed which, when sown, is the smallest of all the seeds scattered upon the soil. But once sown, it grows up and becomes the largest of the plants in the gar­den and even grows branches so big that the birds of the air can take shelter in its shade.”

Jesus used many such stories or parables, to proclaim the word to them in a way they would be able to understand. He would not teach them with­out parables; but privately to his disciples he explained every­thing.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Read:

Jesus compared the kingdom of God as seeds sown by a farmer that grows into a bountiful harvest in due season without the farmer concerning himself with the growth process. He also compares to the small seed of a mustard that later on grows into a large plant whose branches is home to birds later on. With these symbolic stories He proclaims the word in public,while explaining its meaning in private to His disciples.

Reflect:

The kingdom of God as a concept is a mystery. It is not a physical type of kingdom that occupies physical space. If it is so, it would have been easy to define it. But it is not. It is God’s mysterious working in our physical world. It starts in the hearts of men and women of goodwill.

They need not congregate or form a group. They may be independent from one another but they do things with one aim. And these independent initiatives will just later form a critical mass that will catch the world unawares. That is why individually, they look small. But when taken together finally, they are huge enough to chane the world.

Respond:

We are all components of God’s kingdom. Are our words and actions tend towards the building of God’s kingdom? Why don’t we consciously do something regularly no matter how small? This keeps the hope for the kingdom of God to finally come alive. Let us consciously identify one good thing we can do on a regular basis and watch the wonder of God’s kingdom growing night in our sight.