Eleventh
Sunday of Ordinary Time
June 14, 2015
Gospel: Mk 4:26-34
Jesus said to the crowds: “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.” He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom
of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when
it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But
once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth
large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” With many
such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.
Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he
explained everything in private.
(http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/061415.cfm)
Gospel Summary
The mustard seed is the smallest of seeds. While the early Christian
community was small, this parable assures Mark’s readers that their efforts
will be very fruitful in growing toward the Kingdom of God. Jesus preaches
about that kingdom in today’s Gospel reading. He again uses everyday images - those
of seed, sowing, growth, and harvest - to make his point that God’s kingdom is
“naturally” growing. Its fruitful harvest will seem just as miraculous as when
a farmer plants seeds and those seeds later sprout up into a large plant.
Reflection for Families
In this Gospel passage Jesus presents two images for the Kingdom of God.
One is the seed which is scattered on the land. But the one who scattered the
seed does nothing further to ensure growth; yet is grows. The second image is
the mustard seed which is tiny but somehow it becomes the largest plant with
room in its branches for the birds to find shade. The Kingdom of God is never what
we might expect; it does not follow "the rules" that society may
have. People who live by Kingdom values do not follow society's ways. We are to
be countercultural as Jesus was: embracing the outcast, proclaiming God's love
for all, offering healing and reconciliation. And always we are given the grace
to act as his disciples.
The special name for the type of story Jesus tells in today’s Gospel is
parable. In the parables, or “simple stories” Jesus told, he used everyday
objects known to all, such as salt, light, coins, yeast, and even a father and
his sons to teach lessons. Jesus wanted people to be able to relate to the
stories he told. He wanted everyone to be able to understand his teachings
about God, and about how children of God are to live. Our children love to hear
a good story, especially those they can relate to because the situations,
characters, settings, or objects are familiar to them. Be mindful of this as
you choose books or create stories to tell your children. Make choices that
will help you share and reinforce the kingdom values Jesus taught.
Bringing the Gospel into Your Family
Every family member, young or old, tall or short, big
or small, is able to plant seeds of goodness, kindness, thoughtfulness,
generosity, thankfulness, and love in the lives of family members, friends, and
those in need in the world today. Share ideas about the possibilities for
planting such seeds. Place a small, empty bowl on your family prayer table or
kitchen table, and a small container of various kinds of seeds beside it.
Invite family members to put a seed in the glass bowl for every seed of God’s
love they plant in the coming week.
Discussion
1. A seed I would like to plant this week is . . .
2. Here is what I will do to help my seed grow . . .
3. A way our family can help God’s kingdom grow is . .
.
http://usccb.org/bible/readings-audio.cfm