Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. -Year B - Sunday, 16 June 2024 (EPISODE:483)
Readings for Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time.- Year B
FIRST READING: Ezek 17:22-24
Ps 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16. "Lord it is good to give thanks to you."
SECOND READING: 2 Cor 5:6-10
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION ((no bibl. ref.)). Alleluia, alleluia! The seed is the Word of God, Christ is the sower. All who come to him will live forever.
GOSPEL: Mark 4:26-34
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Photo ID: 2272663117 -Mustard seeds in a bottle with a holy bible book in the background. A close-up. Faith parable of Jesus Christ. Christian biblical concept of trust in God. Photo Contributor: MarinelaM
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Please listen to the audio-recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B - Sunday, 16 June 2024 - by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-11th-sunday-ordinary-time-year-b-episode-483/s-8398mDz4omd
(EPISODE:483 )
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*Prologue-
I love the wonderful practicality of the prayers for this weekend's liturgy… the opening prayer (or the "collect" as it is called) gathers our many prayers and thoughts and distils them in these wonderful thoughts: "Grant us the help of your grace always, so that we may please you with our resolve and our DEEDS…"
In other words, may your help and guidance, Lord, lead us to pleasing attitudes and practical action.
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The first reading this weekend and the Psalm refer to the majestic and awe-inspiring sight of the towering cedar trees of Lebanon. This familiar and powerful image represents God's Kingdom and God's people. It is a strong, powerful, impressive, and providential image.
But then we move to the gospel. Jesus asks himself: "What image can I give you for the Kingdom of God?"
The people would have expected him to refer to the traditional image of the royal, strong, immovable Cedar tree, which towers over everything else and can be seen far and wide.
So, it is extremely surprising when Our Lord uses quite a different image. Christ tells us the Kingdom of God starts out like a mustard seed, a tiny, almost imperceptible seed, virtually inconsequential to the casual observer. And yet, this tiny seed grows up to become the largest shrub. Here again, Our Lord deeply surprises his listeners. He does not say that the tiny seed grows to become the largest tree. No, it becomes the largest SHRUB!!!
His point is both surprising and beautiful! Our Lord is telling us all that God's Kingdom is not only to be seen in the obvious and towering grandeur of a mighty Cedar tree, but it is much more subtle and widespread. God's Kingdom is still sturdy, productive, and more down-to-earth. The Kingdom is more widespread. At times it can be patchy, looking less "royal" and "majestic" and more suburban. It is more practical and "every day," but it is better adapted to produce many fruits and survive in many different harsh environments.
But, just like the image of the cedar, this large shrub, which has grown from a surprisingly tiny mustard seed, still provides adequate shelter and welcoming protection for all that gather under its leaves. Again, not so high-class, but every bit as effective and much more involved in the lives of those around it. God's Kingdom doesn't tower loftily over everything else. Rather, it is in and amongst everything and involved directly in its surroundings.
This image is a good one that gives us hope and courage. Our human efforts can be spasmodic and inconsistent. However, God is constantly and quietly at work in obvious and invisible ways.
We can help or hinder God's work, cooperate in it or frustrate it. But whether we cooperate or block God's work, God keeps working and will succeed in the end. No matter what setbacks or frustrations, God is willing us to keep working away with his grace, and our hopes will be richly rewarded.
God is at work all the time in big and small ways, and we, his disciples, are called to respond to what He is doing, jump in, and cooperate with it.
It is good for us to keep in mind the purpose of the sowing of the seed and its harvesting… the seed is to produce fruits. God's word is a powerful seed planted and nurtured to produce fruits… We must not fall into the trap that the Pharisees and scribes did in Christ's day. They turned the seed of God's word and Kingdom into an academic novelty and an exercise in endless rules and regulations. The Faith became almost a thing in itself, separated from its purpose to produce the fruits of God's kingdom.. love, compassion, kindness, mercy and faithfulness…. And so much more…
So, we, too, plant the seed of God's word and nurture it by God's word and sacrament and by constant prayer and thanksgiving to the Lord… and God's grace sets to work in us to produce real and practical fruits for the building up of God's kingdom. Never just for itself but for the greater glory of God and God's Kingdom.
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References:
Homily by Fr Paul W. Kelly
Barclay, W. (1975). The Gospel of Mark. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: St. Andrew Press;
Link, M. (2000). Mission. Praying Scripture in a Contemporary Way. Year B. Allen, Tex.: Resources for Christian Living"
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Photo ID: 2272663117 -Mustard seeds in a bottle with a holy bible book in the background. A close-up. Faith parable of Jesus Christ. Christian biblical concept of trust in God. Photo Contributor: MarinelaM
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B -(Sunday, 16 June 2024) (EPISODE: 483 )
The Lord be with you.
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{{May Our Lord's grace and love abide in you}} welcome everyone, we gather - Ponder with reverence, God's word and sacrament. On this Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
Lord Jesus, you have revealed yourself as the way to the Father: Lord, have mercy You have poured out on your people the Spirit of truth: Christ, have mercy You are the Good Shepherd, leading us to eternal life: Lord, have mercy
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
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Ps 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16. "Lord it is good to give thanks to you."
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION ((no bibl. ref.)). ). Alleluia, alleluia! The seed is the Word of God, Christ is the sower. All who come to him will live forever.
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PREFACE: Ordinary 7
Eucharistic Prayer 2
(theme variation: theme 1 )
(post version: v1-short)
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{16. I pray this week brings you an ever deeper experience of Our Lord's compassion and love}
1. Go forth; the Mass is ended.
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
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Details relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly
Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)
Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)
"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.
Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993). (Sydney Australia).
Sung "Mass in Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.
"Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - In memory of William John Kelly (1942-2017) - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
"Quiet Time." Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.
"Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly. Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly.
Microphones: - Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser. And (2024+) Rode Nt-1 + AI-1 Sound Mixer.
Editing equipment: -- MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software v10.49 (NCH Software).
NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 17.63 (NCH Software)
Sound Processing: iZotope RX 10 Audio Editor (Izotope Inc.)
[Production - KER - 2024]
May God bless and keep you.
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