16 June 2024 - 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Reading

Liturgical Colour: Green. Year: B(II)
Readings at Mass

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First reading

Ezekiel 17:22–24

I have lifted high the lowly tree.

Thus says the Lord GOD:

I, too, will take from the crest of the cedar,

    from its topmost branches tear off a tender shoot,

and plant it on a high and lofty mountain;

    on the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it.

It shall put forth branches and bear fruit,

    and become a majestic cedar.

Birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it,

    every winged thing in the shade of its boughs.

And all the trees of the field shall know

    that I, the LORD,

bring low the high tree,

    lift high the lowly tree,

wither up the green tree,

    and make the withered tree bloom.

As I, the LORD, have spoken, so will I do.

Commentary

Ezekiel 17:22–24 portrays God's promise of restoration for Israel using the metaphor of a cedar tree, offering hope in times of despair.

1. Symbolic Restoration:
The cedar tree symbolizes Israel's renewal, transitioning from desolation to strength and vitality.

2. Divine Sovereignty:
God's direct intervention underscores His sovereignty in orchestrating Israel's restoration, ensuring its fulfillment according to His plan.

3. Growth and Prosperity:
The imagery of the cedar's growth signifies both physical and spiritual flourishing, promising abundant blessings for Israel.

4. Recognition of God's Work:
All will acknowledge God's role in Israel's transformation, witnessing His mighty deeds and divine intervention.

5. Covenantal Promise:
God reaffirms His covenantal promise, declaring His faithfulness to fulfill His restoration plan and bring about lasting renewal.

Ezekiel 17:22–24 reassures Israel of God's unwavering commitment to restore and renew His people, demonstrating His sovereignty and faithfulness in fulfilling His promises amidst adversity.

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Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 92:2–3, 13–14, 15–16

Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

It is good to give thanks to the LORD,

    to sing praise to your name, Most High,

to proclaim your kindness at dawn

    and your faithfulness throughout the night.

Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

The just one shall flourish like the palm tree,

    like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow.

They that are planted in the house of the LORD

    shall flourish in the courts of our God.

Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

They shall bear fruit even in old age;

    vigorous and sturdy shall they be,

declaring how just is the LORD,

    my rock, in whom there is no wrong.

Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

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Second reading

2 Corinthians 5:6–10

Whether we are at home or away, we aspire to please the Lord.

Brothers and sisters: We are always courageous, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord. Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.

Commentary

In 2 Corinthians 5:6–10, the apostle Paul offers insights into the Christian's perspective on life, death, and the afterlife, emphasizing faith and living for Christ.

1. Living by Faith, Not by Sight:
Paul encourages believers to walk by faith, not by sight, emphasizing the importance of trusting in God's promises even when circumstances seem uncertain or challenging.

2. Confidence in the Eternal Home:
Paul expresses confidence that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord. Yet, as believers, we eagerly anticipate being with the Lord in our eternal home, where we will experience His presence fully.

3. Pleasing the Lord:
Paul emphasizes the ultimate goal of pleasing the Lord in all things, whether in this life or the next. Believers are motivated by the prospect of standing before Christ's judgment seat to receive rewards for their deeds, done in faith and obedience.

4. Accountability and Judgment:
Paul reminds believers of their accountability before Christ's judgment seat, where each will receive what is due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad. This underscores the seriousness of living a life that honors God and reflects His grace and righteousness.

5. Motivation for Christian Living:
The prospect of standing before Christ's judgment seat serves as a motivation for believers to live with integrity, sincerity, and devotion to Christ, knowing that their actions and attitudes will be evaluated by Him.

2 Corinthians 5:6–10 calls believers to live by faith, with confidence in the eternal home awaiting them in the presence of the Lord. It underscores the importance of living a life that pleases God, knowing that we will ultimately give an account of our actions before Christ's judgment seat.

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Gospel Acclamation

Jn15:15

Alleluia, alleluia.

The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower.

All who come to him will live for ever.

Alleluia, alleluia.

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Gospel

Mark 4:26–34

It is the smallest of all seeds, and becomes the largest of plants.

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.

Commentary

Mark 4:26–34 contains two parables by Jesus, illustrating the growth and expansiveness of the kingdom of God through agricultural imagery.

1. Parable of the Growing Seed:
Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a growing seed, emphasizing its mysterious and gradual growth, initiated by God's power and sovereignty.

2. Parable of the Mustard Seed:
The kingdom of God is likened to a mustard seed, which starts small but grows into a significant plant, demonstrating its surprising and expansive nature.

Mark 4:26–34 reveals the dynamic growth and surprising expansiveness of the kingdom of God, illustrating God's sovereignty and the transformative power of His work in the world.

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