15/06/2024
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
June16, 2024
Mk 4:26-34
Today, we reflect on two profound truths that Jesus reveals to us in the Gospel reading from Mark : great things often have humble beginnings and that growth is a slow process . In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus shares with us two parables - the parable of the mustard seed and the parable of the growing seed. These stories remind us that just as a tiny mustard seed grows into a large, sturdy plant, so too can our continuous small acts of faith and kindness blossom into something truly remarkable in God's Kingdom.
The seed is simply sown by the farmer ; it grows quietly underground unnoticed by any one and becomes a tree giving life, food and shelter and shade to everyone. We all know the life of Mother Teresa : how she left the comfort and security of Loreto convent on hearing a call to care for the poor within the call to religious life . She had almost nothing in her hand. But just by begging and living in a hut in a slum amidst the poor she built an organisation that has spread throughout the world. The first time she ventured into the street and begged for food for her orphans , she was ridiculed and humiliated. When she went to a bakery asking for food , the owner spat on her. But she did not give up and replied to him saying, “This is for me ,now can you give me something for my children ?”Those words changed the heart of that person and he never stopped giving her bread for the poor as long as he lived . From that humble beginning ,we know how people line up to donate their time and treasure, so that the missionaries of Charity lack nothing and keep growing. All around us we see examples of humble beginnings .In our families,we may have begun with less , but with hard work and a simple lifestyle we have much more than we began with. Many home cooks have opened restaurants,schools that began with a few students , have thousands now . Jesus chose 12 Apostles to carry on His mission,and today there is no country in the world,where there are no Christians !
When we look at the life of BILL Gates who started at the age of 13 to be curious and learn the computer ; his quest for learning shows how baby steps can lead us to enormous growth and take us to top of the world. Even now Bill Gates believes in the need to struggle and teaches his children to stand on their own feet .
Growth too is an essential element of progress .The farmer only sows the seed .Germination and growth carry on underground , unseen ! God has hidden the capacity for growth within the seed . The right temperature and moisture set the ball rolling and soon we can see the shoots , leaves , flowers and fruit .To be vibrant ,faith filled Christians ,we also need to believe in the gift of faith ,we have received at Baptism . However we need to nurture it by daily prayer, Scripture reading, Mass and practise Christian loving towards those in need . When we act in faith , we will be amazed at how God is ever present to help us out. .
Today’s trend of making our children dream of immediate success and fostering their expectations of being on the top of the world from day one is actually destroying them . In the recent NEET examination where 24 lakh students appeared ,there are only about 1 lakh seats .This means that 23 lakh students will have to appear for another examination to try their luck . In such situations , students and parents both face a great deal of frustration and downfalls without any hope of relief.
Jesus calls us to be humble and faithful for that is the only way to be great in the kingdom of God.
Mt 20:25-28 describes this very clearly, “Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many .
I was impressed by the story of boy who became catholic a few years ago while none of his family members where Christian ,so all the rest in the family would mock at him. They hated Christianity and the whole neighbourhood laughed at people who followed Christ. Surprisingly, after the death of that boy , all his family became Christian. They were deeply moved by the holy , dedicated and exemplary life that boy had lived . His inspiration and commitment to the values and morals of Christianity lead the family to follow Christ as a tribute to their dead son, brother and friend.
Let us commit ourselves to God who is not only our Creator , but our Saviour and also a great friend who wants us to be humble and follow Him faithfully .He promises to help us grow whether it is slowly ,silently or by leaps and bounds , but He will never let our faith and trust in Him be disappointed.May every green tree or plant we see remind us of God’s infinite capacity to make us grow !
