To watch Deacon Andy’s homily from the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time: CLICK HERE!
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Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
To watch Fr. Joe’s homily for the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: CLICK HERE!
One might say that today’s Gospel is about the everyday miracles we can work if we possess “mustard seed faith.” Often in life, we have the ability to plant proverbial seeds and nurture them into something that will endure into the next generation.
For sure we are all aware of the enormity of the world’s needs. We are very aware of those who are suffering for any number of reasons in our world… We are aware of the need for peace in our world… We are aware of so much that needs a people to care, a people to assist….
Yet often we might wonder what am I, one person or one family, or one Parish able to do that makes a difference? One might respond as one Jewish Scholar reminds us: “walk humbly now, do justly now, love mercy now. You are not expected to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”
Maybe that what St. Paul is reminding us about when he shared that we must “walk with faith, not by sight…” Doing our best to live justly and mercifully; in the future world (time), what is good and just will be clear to everyone.
May we become more and more aware of our ability in word and action to share/to sow, if you will “seeds” of God’s goodness and life and love with anyone and everyone today and every day and in most cases in the small acts of faith and hope and love; the small acts of compassion, kindness and generosity, that bear much good, much fruit today or tomorrow, or something later, at a time that we may never know, but as time that will result in its own miracle that reveals the Kingdom of God in the midst of the blessedness of every day life.
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s Scriptures certainly speak of mercy and forgiveness. They share with us the forgiveness of others by our God… of King David who killed Uriah to take his wife as his wife and a sinful woman.
But I would suggest, these stories of the past are meant to be reminders to US the people of this day, that God’s mercy and forgiveness are not just meant for someone else, they are meant for each of us this day, every day.
Like the people of the past, we too prayed, as part of the Responsorial Psalm, “Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.”
Forgiveness by God is without a doubt unconditional, yet we know that the lives we live are meant to be lives of love of God and love of others as people who are the Lord’s Disciples of today.
As we hear Jesus says today, “Your Faith has saved you, go in peace.” Go in peace and through our lives bring: faith, hope, love, mercy, peace and so much more to one and all, each day, everyday.
It was said of Mohammad Ali, a devout Muslim, that each day he focused on doing good deeds daily. Good deeds that would help in his journey to Heaven. For sure there are many good deeds that we have, we should and we will, share in the days ahead because they are just practice for our eternal life.
Hopefully, deeds of never-ending mercy and forgiveness, that preach concretely the Kingdom of God here on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Recently, Pope Francis shared, “If God had a name, it would be mercy.” May all the world know God’s name: Mercy, because of the good deeds of mercy and forgiveness we live and share daily!
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Scripture Readings: Ezekiel 17:22-24; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10; Mark 4:26-34
I read a story this week about a family that went to the Dollar Store for get some needed items for their weekend getaway.
While in the Dollar Store one of the children picked up a packet of little cartoon character things that would turn into BIG towels when you added water.
The father thought, “Don’t you need a towel to be dry when you are wet? Who wants a towel that only gets big when you first get it wet? How is this trinket measuring one inch going to change itself into a towel one could actually use for their body?”
To say the least the father was very skeptical. But then again, who says no to something like that when it is only a dollar?
Well you can probably guess what happened — it worked!
Today, we hear the story of the little mustard seed.
When something is small it can very often deceive people into believing its power is small as well. But just like the Parable of Jesus today, the mustard seed, when planted and watered, becomes a large plant.
Our everyday actions may sometimes seem small, but they can have great power to make a difference, even change lives.
Our actions and words can be like mustard seeds, they get planted in the lives of others, and they grow the kingdom of God.
If we think about it:
+ we have all seen the effects of a loving word or a caring gesture
+ we have seen how giving small amounts of our time, talent and
treasure can change attitudes, emotions and the lives of others.
Jesus, tried to teach us about this in today’s Parable. If you still don’t get it, stop by the local Dollar Store. Examples of SMALL things that make a bid difference are only a buck!
But above all, may we continue to work at being and becoming: “People of the Mustard Seed!”