1st READING
God chooses servants according to His wisdom and principles. Often, His choice is an unexpected one that baffles us. God is unpredictable and this is a good thing. It reminds us that His ways are not our ways – we cannot second-guess how He thinks. God often seems to be an “out of the blue,” effective approach to a problem or situation.
Ezekiel 17:22-24
22 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; 23 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. 24 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.
P S A L M
Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16
R: Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
1 [2] It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to your name, Most High, 2 [3] to proclaim your kindness at dawn and your faithfulness throughout the night. (R) 12 [13] The just one shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow. 13 [14] They that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. (R) 14 [15] They shall bear fruit even in old age; vigorous and sturdy shall they be, 15 [16] declaring how just is the Lord, my Rock, in whom there is no wrong. (R)
2ND READING
Our earthly life is a preparation for eternity. Our life here gives us the opportunity to develop our talents and gifts in the service of God’s Kingdom. Our humanity tells us who we are – persons in the midst of a community of faith. One day, our bodies will be transformed — though it is not yet clear how — and this will be for us a great joy. Let us look forward to eternal life with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:6-10
6 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, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord. 9 Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away. 10 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.
GOSPEL
A lot about our spiritual life is a mystery to us. Most people have no idea of how plants grow, so this image in today’s Gospel is a good one for the spiritual life. God is working within to transform us into His image and likeness. Let us believe this and pray for the grace to persevere through life’s difficulties.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower. All who come to him will live for ever.
Mark 4:26-34
26 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 27 and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28 Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” 30 He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. 32 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.” 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. 34 Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.
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