Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for June 14, 2015

Parable of the Sower (Biserica Ortodoxă din Deal, Cluj-Napoca), Romania)

First Reading: Ezekiel 17:22-24

Can it be only a coincidence that today’s readings all point us toward planting, growing, new life from old, just as summer comes near? The prophet Ezekiel celebrates the noble cedar, a lofty tree that provides a nesting place for the birds and shade for all manner of creatures. Ezekiel is speaking of Israel, reminding the people that God may bring down the mighty nations and raise high the lowly. But the prophet’s words can serve us, too, as an inspiring reminder that with God’s help, a mighty tree can grow from a mere sprig. See God’s beautiful creation, and know that God is good.

Psalm: Psalm 92:1-4,11-14

This Psalm of praise and thanksgiving shows us mighty trees, too, cedars of Lebanon and tall palm trees, as metaphors for the people who grow and flourish under God’s nurturing care. Through righteousness – the practice of justice – and faith in God’s loving kindness, we may remain ripe and fruitful our whole lives long.

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:1-17

The notion of growing things and fruitful harvests may not be as obvious in this passage from Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth, but we can find it in the closing verses. When we choose to live in Christ, everything in our life changes. Just as the leaves fall in autumn and our flowers and gardens die, only to return full of life in the spring, everything that is old passes away in Christ’s creation. Everything becomes new for us in the life we gain through Jesus.

Gospel: Mark 4:26-34

Here are two more of Jesus’ parables about planting seeds that yield food from the earth. But there’s something else going on: This is Mark’s first account of Jesus using parables to unveil the nature of the Kingdom of God. Mark will recount 16 more “Kingdom-is-like” stories before the book’s end. Mark also has another recurring theme: Jesus intentionally disguises his mission through mysterious parables, and he tells his followers to keep his healings secret. Theologians call this “The Messianic Secret,” and wonder why it is so important in Mark’s Gospel. Might the evangelist have feared that Jesus’ call for the Kingdom of God, presuming that it would overthrow Roman rule, is too dangerous to talk about in public?