11th Sunday, Year B: Reflection by Fr Julian Ekeh
THEME: THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: A LITTLE BEGINNING THAT ENDS IN GOD
(Mark 4:26-34)
Jesus in the Gospel of Today talks about the Kingdom of God
first as the seed scattered upon the ground. Secondly, as the mustard seed,
which looks insignificant at the beginning but becomes great at last.
THE SCATTERED SEEDS
Narrating the first parable of today's Gospel, Jesus
compares the kingdom of God to the seed a man scattered and slept. It grew of
its own, and when it is ripe, the man harvests.
The Lord has scattered each and every one of us in the
world. He allows us to grow and be productive. He endows us with graces,
favours, and blessed things of the earth, makes us responsible for them, and
waits for us to give proper account at the end of the day. The Lord gives us
freedom to make use of the numerous opportunities given to us to make heaven.
He wants you to grow. He has done His part. The rest is in
your hands. Do not take His benevolence for granted. Do not think that He is
sleeping away. Time shall come when He will come to harvest, then your
achievements will speak for you.
You've got in you the potential for spiritual growth that
takes you to heaven.
Do not waste the seeds of the kingdom in you. Africa and
Nigeria have wasted a lot of seeds that should have been nourished to
greatness. We have lost a lot in the past through insecurity, corruption,
injustice, and hatred. The time for reckoning is coming. Let us make use of the
time we have now to make this environment a better place, a kingdom of God on
earth. Let us make good use of this moment to seek the ways of God and
forestall the impending destruction that may visit when we fail to do the
needful.
Do not waste the seed of your youth diminishing instead of
living in accordance with the will of God for you. Do not get yourself involved
in acts against the kingdom values.
VALUE THE MUSTARD
SEED IN YOU
The little things that lead to the kingdom of God, to
success, to greatness, and to fulfilment are the seeds deposited in us by God
for noble purpose.
Since we are limited by sight, we may not understand them at
the present. But we are encouraged to move on courageously and never look down
on ourselves and what God can do through us.
What attracts the attention of God is found in our
everydayness. They are found in the way we greet, we feel with people, perform
our little roles and functions, in that simple smile, in checking up on our
neighbours, in the cares we show, etc.
This parable speaks to our hearts to remain resolute, to be
consistent in doing those little things and make them part of us. It is an
invitation to keep growing in virtue. It calls on us to take one day at a time,
to make positive steps towards positive ends.
This parable in a special way reminds us of the seed of
faith sown in us at baptism, it challenges us to make it flourish so that it
grows to what God intended when we were made heirs to His kingdom as infants.
Let us live in appreciation to the Lord who wills that we
become great in every good work. This appreciation, in turn, will enable us as
we grow to bring others to share the joy that flows from the kingdom of God. It
makes us live lives that inspire people. It makes us live lives that win souls
for Christ. We are made to participate in emptying hell fire and dispossessing
the devil of his grip on children of God.
May you grow to the height God expects of you. May you
attain the heavenly destination God willed for you. May you be a blessing and
sign of the kingdom wherever you're catapulted to.
May God bless His word in our hearts.
LET US PRAY
We thank You, Lord God, for explaining the secret of the
Kingdom to us, Your mere little children. Give us the courage to be consistent
in the little good things we do every day of our lives. Do not allow the seed
of evil introduced by the enemy to deceive us and make us lose focus of our
end. May we make heaven after all we are passing through here on earth. We make
these prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Happy Sunday to you
(11th Sunday,
Ordinary Time, Yr. B)
Rev
Fr Julian O Ekeh
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