A few days ago my wife discovered some pictures of our family move from Illinois to California as we stopped to visit the Grand Canyon. One was of the six of us looking down into the canyon and remembering the remark by one of our children saying it’s just a big hole in the ground. Another was of my youngest on my shoulders who a week earlier wouldn’t talk or be near me because she was angry I had been away for a long period of time to set up our new life across country. I remarked to her when she saw the picture that it was a journey that changed our lives forever. Though she had no memory at the age of two about the trip, she agreed with my comment.
Each of us is on a life journey that offers us multiple opportunities along the way. Sometimes we can plan the direction we want to take and at other times events happen that cause us to change course. What is important is that we have a focus that will assist us in any life decision we make to arrive at a place that furthers good for us and others, no matter what the outcome.
Our Gospel and readings today on this eleventh Sunday of Ordinary time address a similar conclusion not only for the early Church but for us now as it addresses our growth with God in our lives.
The prophet Ezekiel lived during the Babylonian exile of the Israelites who were punished by God for their sinful nature and rejecting God and His ways. He foretold them they would be separated from their home country and that Jerusalem and the Temple would be destroyed. And yet, he also gave them hope that during this time they would be able to grow towards a new relationship with God turning them into a great nation under a messianic king from the line of David.
St. Paul in his Second Letter to the Corinthians writes about overcoming the world’s rejection of Christ. He outlines for them that by converting to Christianity they will suffer many setbacks, but if they stay faithful God will enable them to grow into a new creation for Christ to overcome adversity.
In St. Mark’s Gospel, Jesus talks about growth in the Kingdom or Reign of God. Though He speaks in parables germane to the people of His time, the message gives them food for thought as to how they need to consider God in their lives. Do they hold on to what is currently happening in the world to solve issues affecting them or do they look at the bigger picture of how God works in the lives of His creation whether we are active or inactive? The world addresses situations one by one as the need arises. God is there for all that is happening and connects it in a pattern of growth.
Though at times we may look at ourselves as insignificant in the overall scheme of life, in God’s reign it is just the opposite. He knows we come from a small beginning, but faith in God provides us with the working tools of the Holy Spirit to grow exponentially so we can do the things for which God has created us.
My wife and I started as a family of two that has now grown to 24. Like many newlyweds we wanted to grow a family based on the values we learned that would enhance life experiences for all involved. Throughout those years we faced many difficulties that questioned are belief system. But we realized over time that there are no simple answers to many of the setback we may face. The only one who seemed to have answers was God.
We decided we needed to trust in our faith to provide us with the peace and joy we sought. We became more positive in our attitudes and reached out to those in need. Sometimes it was just an act of kindness in words. Over time it became one in deeds as well.
God created us all out of His love so that we would have a relationship
with Him and with all He created. Our
purpose is to further that in thought, word and deed. We need to make love the center of our
universe rather than whatever is causing us a particular problem. By doing this, the teachings of Jesus make
sense and become alive. We create a
society that looks to benefit all, not just those who want to further an idea
that takes care of their needs but not necessarily those of others.
We have a choice. We can look to the world to plan our life journey with its constant up and downs while we live on earth. Or, we can rely in faith to follow God whose Son, Jesus, died on the cross for our sins and opened the gates of heaven for our eternal salvation. In time alone, the latter seems a better choice. The other seems to be a big hole in the ground.
Reading 1: Ezekiel 17: 22-24
Reading 2: Second Corinthians 5: 6-10
Gospel: Mark 4: 26-34
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