ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME B

[cappie]

The Gospel of Mark begins with Jesus announcing, “The kingdom of God has come near,” and then telling a series of parables to describe what that vision looks like. And Jesus enlists the help of a mustard seed   

His audience would certainly have been familiar with these seeds,  spreading so easily that the growth is difficult to control! Jesus uses this weed, an invasive crop, to describe the Vision of God. It starts grassroots, tiny, almost casual– it doesn’t take up too much room. And then moves and grows into a power and movement that can’t be contained!

Jesus describes the sower having scattered the seeds to plant, then the seed sprouting and growing, as would be expected, but then says something upon which the whole parable hinges: the sower “does not know how.” The sower can do their part in planting and tending, but the growth comes in the mystery of God. In the original meaning of the word, the seed grows “automatically,” or, “of itself.” 

“We do not know how.” Such growth requires comfort in mystery, and trust in God. We might never see the ten thousand tiny actions that contribute to a transformation from a seed to a flower. We may never see the flower, leaving the seed forever sown in hope and expectation. Growth and transformation are not our responsibility; they are God’s gifts to us. We must do our part to tend and care, but the mystery of faith gives us freedom and perhaps even relief. We do now know how, and we do not need to.

Letting go of the need to “know how” brings life to the Psalm.    The Psalmist speaks of those who are just upon the earth but looks to God as the source and measure of justice, of righteousness. Like Ezekiel, he evokes the image of a flourishing tree to describe the lives of the just. The image, again, suggests the Cross as the measure of righteousness.

Through a caring ecosystem that can provide soil and water and air and sun, and the mystery of God’s flourishing love, the mustard seed grows and matures into a giant tree or shrub, so hardy it harbors other species in its branches. Upon first glance at that minuscule seed, one might never imagine the strength and stubbornness of the mature plant!  It’s by God’s love and grace it can become a large tree.

Centuries before Jesus, in the Hebrew Scripture today, we also hear of a vision of a noble cedar tree.   Israel at this point was a war zone. Ezekiel speaks to them in a prophetic parable.  After death and destruction, Ezekiel envisions God reinstituting the holy temple, allowing the people to worship together once again.

The sprig from a fallen tree – and the ruins of a destroyed temple – will exhibit a life force that goes beyond human destruction, will grow on a lofty mountain, proud and straight. And then the branches of that cedar will, like the mustard shrub, provide shade and shelter for others. As long as there is life, there is hope. Even a fallen tree can, by God’s mystery, grow into something strong and powerful.

Jesus saved us, through his death and resurrection we celebrate each year at Easter. Jesus will save us again and again, every day and all day, for reasons and in ways we can never understand. Our job is to sow the seeds, plant, tend them with faith, and rest in their provision. We do not know, and we do not need to know, how the plants will grow and flourish.  We need to know that God will cause the sprigs to become mighty cedars.

That we may walk by faith in the mysterious power of God, and not by the sight of the hows and whys. Faith that Christ has died for us, given us relief and freedom, and is constantly growing the seeds that we sow. Everything has become new, and thanks be to God, we “do not know how.” May we all understand the transformative and life-giving power of God, and rest under the mustard tree and the cedar trees, knowing what we know and having faith in what we don’t.

 

[little2add]

Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to His people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
Almighty God and Father,
we worship You, we give You thanks,
we praise You for Your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ,
only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
You take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
You are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For You alone are the Holy One,
You alone are the Lord,
You alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of the Father.

Amen.