Sunday Gospel Reflection, June 16, 2024: Of its own accord the land yields fruit...

Of its own accord the land yields fruit…

So, what is our role in the kingdom of God? 

    The prophet Ezekiel was called to be a prophet to a people already in exile, a people utterly disheartened by the loss of their land and the fall of their king. Through Ezekiel, God informs the people that he intends to restore Israel at some unspecified future time: I will take from the crest of the cedar a tender shoot, and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. It shall put forth branches and bear fruit, and become a majestic cedar. One day, Israel will again be a place where others will come to witness and recognize the greatness of the God of Israel. However, the people need to understand that such restoration will be God’s work, not their own; their role will be to give thanks to the Lord in the temple, as Psalm 92 suggests, and to be just, so that, through their prayer, they may draw closer to God. Prayer is the way they will participate justly in God’s kingdom on earth, and flourish like the palm tree. 

    Jesus similarly seeks to explain the kingdom of God to his disciples. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ parables on the kingdom frequently reference growth and harvest: 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, he tells the crowds. Humankind can choose to participate in the planting and harvesting, but while we sleep, the kingdom continues to grow, for God is always at work. The kingdom of God is thus an ongoing miracle in which we have the opportunity to participate, and it behooves us to do so. Even the tiny mustard seed can spring up and become the largest of plants in God’s hands. In every endeavor, then, we must put God’s plan at the center of anything we might hope to accomplish, aspiring to please him, as Paul tells the Corinthians, remaining courageous during our time on earth, with an eye to salvation, to the fullness of the kingdom ahead. 

    God is at work, relentlessly, endlessly, to bring forth salvation. Our role is to proclaim the kingdom which is unfolding, trusting in God’s promise of salvation for all, confident that we will be safe in the branches of his kingdom as we participate in praise and thanksgiving for all God promises to accomplish in our lives. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you! 

This post is based on Fr. Pat’s Scripture class.
Image source: www.wordclouds.com