The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to reflect on the growth we have experienced in our walk by faith as companions of Jesus.
In the reading from the Prophet Ezekiel, Israel is exalted at Last.
* [17:22–23] The Lord will undo the actions of the Babylonian king by rebuilding the Davidic dynasty so the nations realize that only Israel’s God can restore a people’s destiny. (Ezekiel, CHAPTER 17 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 92 is a thanksgiving for Vindication.
* [Psalm 92] A hymn of praise and thanks for God’s faithful deeds (Ps 92:2–5). The wicked, deluded by their prosperity (Ps 92:6–9), are punished (Ps 92:10), whereas the psalmist has already experienced God’s protection (Ps 92:11–15).
* [92:14] Planted: the just are likened to trees growing in the sacred precincts of the Temple, which is often seen as the source of life and fertility because of God’s presence, cf. Ps 36:9, 10; Ez 47:1–12. (Psalms, PSALM 92 | USCCB, n.d.)
The reading from the Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians presents our Future Destiny.
* [5:6–9] Tension between present and future is expressed by another spatial image, the metaphor of the country and its citizens. At present we are like citizens in exile or far away from home. The Lord is the distant homeland, believed in but unseen (2 Cor 5:7).
* [5:10] We must all appear: the verb is ambiguous: we are scheduled to “appear” for judgment, at which we will be “revealed” as we are (cf. 2 Cor 11; 2:14; 4:10–11). (2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus presents the Parable of the Growing Seed and the Parable of the Mustard Seed
* [4:26–29] Only Mark records the parable of the seed’s growth. Sower and harvester are the same. The emphasis is on the power of the seed to grow of itself without human intervention (Mk 4:27). Mysteriously it produces blade and ear and full grain (Mk 4:28). Thus the kingdom of God initiated by Jesus in proclaiming the word develops quietly yet powerfully until it is fully established by him at the final judgment (Mk 4:29); cf. Rev 14:15.
* [4:32] The universality of the kingdom of God is indicated here; cf. Ez 17:23; 31:6; Dn 4:17–19. (Mark, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)
Andy Alexander, S.J. (2015) comments that We "walk by faith, not by sight" much of the time. That's why we call it "faith." Walking in "confidence" is walking "with faith." [Latin: confidere = to believe in] Today, for example, each of us can place our trust in God's presence with us, in the midst of the most difficult challenges.
We can say, "Lord, I know that you know more than I know or understand. I trust that you feel the pain I have and the pain that so many are carrying. I know you are sad about suffering. But, I place my trust in you, believing that you alone can redeem this mess with your love, mercy and grace. Knowing you are with me, gives me courage and hope. What I'm really asking you is to help me sense your presence with me and to believe. Like these readings help me to trust, that you have a power and a grace that we can't see or understand until we witness how you can give light, when we only see death. Please give me bold courage to sustain this faith and to witness it for others who need it from me. Then, like sun and rain and good soil, mercy and love will bring more life and growth than I can today imagine."
And, for some of us, this song, which often lifts up my heart, may help:
Chris Muglia's song "Our God Is Here" here performed by The Arch Street Band. (Alexander, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “God gave us what was most precious,” by Isaac of Nineveh (a Syrian monk, teacher, and bishop), 613-700 A.D.
"The sum of all is God, the Lord of all, who from love of his creatures has delivered his Son to death on the cross. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son for it. Not that he was unable to save us in another way, but in this way it was possible to show us his abundant love abundantly, namely, by bringing us near to him by the death of his Son. If he had anything more dear to him, he would have given it to us, in order that by it our race might be his. And out of his great love he did not even choose to urge our freedom by compulsion, though he was able to do so. But his aim was that we should come near to him by the love of our mind. And our Lord obeyed his Father out of love for us." (excerpt from ASCETICAL HOMILY 74.28) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 comments that Ruth was struggling with her teenage children. She loved them and prayed for them and set healthy boundaries for them, but their irritability and poor choices made her feel that she wasn’t doing enough. Some days she even wondered if she was failing as a parent.
Then one morning she read this verse from St. Paul during her prayer time: “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Think about a burden you are carrying today. Now, ponder today’s words from St. Paul: “We walk by faith, not by sight.” How is the Lord inviting you to view that situation by faith? Perhaps you could search out or recall Scripture passages that give you a renewed perspective. God has given you the gift of faith, and he is so pleased when you use it!
“Lord, open my eyes to see your presence and your faithfulness.” (Meditation on 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that, in the passage from Ezekiel, God promises the restoration of Israel and an overturning of the way of things that resonates with the Magnificat. Surrender to the will of God is part of the dilemma faced by Paul concerning being with Christ in life or in afterlife as Paul ponders in this passage and in the Letter to the Philippians. Friar Jude reminds us that the Kingdom grows from a small seed to a great size, even overtaking all the garden as happens with the mustard plant.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, affirms the benefits of psychological growth but urges us not to become stuck in individualistic worship of the self.
When psyche meets psyche there is usually insight, communion, expansion, or at least distraction. It feels alive and will always lead us to another level of revelation or confrontation. But sometimes there is no goal beyond the process itself or that elusive thing called healing. This sounds a bit hard perhaps, but the enduring philosophical traditions have never confused existence with essence as we do today. We attach enormous significance to passing feelings, hurts, and experiences, things which the great world religions have called illusion, temptation, trial, grace, opportunity, passion, or “shadow and disguise.” They are means, not ends; windows and doorways perhaps, but surely not the temple itself.
At best, the search for understanding or sobriety or healing is seen as the early “purgative way,” but not yet the classic “illuminative” or “unitive” paths. In these, we less and less need explanations, success, or control. Healthy spirituality points us through ever-changing psyche to never-changing Spirit. The Mystery has shown itself. It’s okay. It’s enough. No one, including the self, needs be blamed, shamed, or worshiped. If that’s not the freedom of the children of God, what would it possibly be? (Rohr, n.d.)
We express gratitude to the Spirit for the guidance in our journey of growing in grace as members of the Body of Christ.
References
Alexander, A. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved June 16, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/061624.html
Ezekiel, CHAPTER 17 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 16, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ezekiel/17?22
Mark, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 16, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/4?26
Meditation on 2 Corinthians 5:6-10. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 16, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/06/16/1001618/
Psalms, PSALM 92 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 16, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/92?2
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 16, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/only-the-beginning/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). What the Kingdom of God Is Like. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 16, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jun16
2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 16, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/5?6
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