Homily on 16 June 2024 by Fr. Joe Tedesco

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Ezekiel 17: 22 – 24. 2 Corinthians 5: 6 – 10 Mark 4: 26 – 34

This Sunday invites us to consider the fundamental realities of our Christian life. It’s a day to day living of Christ in our life. Always acting out of this faith at every moment. Accepting that the truth of our life is centered on Christ.

We have come to know and to accept that it is Christ who is our life, He is the truth, and the only way to the full life with God who created us in his image and likeness.

The parable of the mustard seed reminded me of my growing up years in a row home in Philadelphia. Across the street was a neighbor who had a very large yard and a rooster. A little bit of country life but my Grandparents lived in New Jersey – the Garden State – visiting them, we were always around the rows of vegetables growing in my Nonni’s yard. I remember the saying about corn – “Knee high by the 4th of July.” Always the best corn on the cob came from New Jersey. But you had to wait till the ear was ripe and ready.

So, this analogy of a seed growing is so powerful for our faith because it is so familiar to us all. In faith we want the Kingdom to grow within us and in the world. What I think the parable can tell us is that every day counts once the seed has been planted.

Traditionally, the seed of faith is planted at Baptism when we are initiated into Christ and the Church. And of course, the seed starts small in our life but truly begins to grow when we come to know Jesus and commit to live for him and in him. It is the day to day commitment to Christ and all that this means in our actions and choices, in the circumstances of our lives.

There’s a great quote from Carrie ten Boom – the Dutch Underground leader hiding Jews from the Nazis. She said: Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see. How true that turns out to be. Think about your life, what was significant and who was so important to who you are today, living Christ, proclaiming Christ.

Growing the Kingdom within and in the world is all about fidelity and collaboration in our human tasks – always doing the Christian thing in whatever way we can. Making efforts to bring love and mercy, forgiveness and always compassion. Day by day growing the Kingdom. Always seeking to be Jesus for others. We have tons of opportunities. Can you see them? Can you choose to act on them and let the seed of Christ grow in us and in the world. Addressing the divine interest – doing the Will of God.

All these very human efforts touch the divine in us and little by little the world becomes a different place, one person at a time. Be full of hope – make every day count with moments of grace.

The image of Ezekiel says it – plant and water the tree – for us – that tender shoot of the life of Christ within – growing in us. It takes work for sure, courage and perseverance and most of all faith, that the smallest action has merit and continues the process. Just keep on loving, just keep seeking justice and the dignity of each person.

St Paul really encourages us today, he writes – we walk by faith not by sight. Faith enables us to do the right things, no matter what. Sometimes, maybe most times, we act without knowing if our actions will help or even bear fruit in some way. But we do them because that’s the Christian way, it’s what we do, and leave the rest to God.

This Christian life we live offers us the chance to be both seed and gardener. We grow this life by our prayer, our spiritual reading, our fidelity to our sacramental life, and all we do to be faithful to this life in Christ.

So, we hold on in hope and trust that in all the ways we seek to touch our world with Christ makes a difference.