June 14, 2015
11th Sunday Ordinary Time
Recently I visited two men at Mercy Hospital on life support close to death. When I returned the following week, both men were sitting up, looking remarkably well, eager to go home. I observed a brush with death and an innate resiliency to live. Today, St. Paul writes to the Church at Corinth to have courage as they go home to the Lord. Paul preaches an imminent return of Jesus in glory. Soon, very soon, believers will face judgment based on faith expressed in action. We will be judged on what we have done with the time given to us. However, in the Gospel according to St. Mark, Jesus tells parables about the Reign of God coming over time. In the first parable, the Kingdom of God is like one who scatters seed, without knowing how, the seed grows and matures until the harvest. In the second parable, the Kingdom of God is like a very, very small mustard seed growing into a large shrub where birds will build nests in its shade. St. Paul preaches a looming dramatic end. Jesus speaks, in these two similes, of the reign of God unfolding slowly. So often there are contrasting melodies in Scripture that complement each other. Indeed life is short, the present moment is precious and we commit ourselves, with faith and hope in the future, to the tasks and responsibilities of daily life. With “courage" we await the return of Jesus in glory and with “courage†we continue the ministry of Jesus Christ. At baptism we are anointed to inaugurate God’s reign and to build up the body of Christ. We play a humble and faithful part in God’s plan.
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