Scripture Reflections for the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Political realists of Ezekiel’s day...could not possibly foresee that one day the “seed of David” would arrive, who would be “planted” in the earth through his death and burial, only to rise and begin growing as a mystical body, until his body filled the whole earth, providing a “tree of life” for all humanity, the only source of eternal life for every human being.”

“let us each care for and cultivate our lives in a way that will allow the words and ways of Christ Jesus to live within each of us, helping us to grow … eventually … into the full head of wheat, and even into the mighty mustard bush that can feed those around us and offer rest to those in need.”

“All too often, we draw back from being ambitious because we see only our own limitations, or the limitation of those around us. But who knows what we might become and do, what mighty shrub we might be, if we let God bring that growth about within us.”

“Andersen’s patience and understanding of the Paschal Mystery where pain and suffering can bring about new life helps him mentor those who are homeless. His lived experience inspires many of the guests and helps them join together to work to bring about small harvests that are new possibilities. He sows seeds of hope and compassion.”

“Just because Jesus does not do everything at once it is not grounds to dismiss him as fake. The Kingdom of God has truly and definitely arrived.”

“Big and flashy things always seem important. But small things matter. Things as little as a mustard seed can shape our lives.”

“There will be a harvest of our faithful efforts. The birds of the air, even we ourselves, will shelter in the generous shade we enable to grow.”

“The center of the story is God and God’s purposes. Our place is relative to God rather than God existing to satisfy our needs.”

“How were seeds of faith planted in you? Were they like the seeds in today’s Gospel, “scattered and sown” without your parents or teachers even realizing what was happening? Were they tiny mustard seeds?”

“The message is simple and direct. The reign of God will grow to its fullness, despite all obstacles.”

“The Kingdom is fragile, made from the fragile materials of you and me, yet God has chosen these fragile materials to establish the dominance of His love.”

“We all have so much God-given potential in our life. It’s already deep within us. We just need to realize it, get out of the way and let the seed grow.”

“To grow is a part of life be it physical, emotional or spiritual. In most cases we are responsible for growing, we can nurture ourselves in many ways.”

“Don Segundo...understands the words of today’s Gospel: of its own accord, God’s Creation yields its fruit. But he also knows that he, like all of us, must be care for that creation.”

“Perhaps the challenge of the parable is to think small enough, to be willing to shed our delusions of grandeur. This is what it is to think of others with due regard for their dignity as well as ours.”

“The kingdom comes as sheer gift from God. The wise person says thank you.”

“One of the greatest antidotes to many of our sins is a sense of humour, the readiness not to take ourselves too seriously”

“People of faith see things differently, not just what’s right in front of them, not just what’s obvious to any even canny observer, they see according to God’s plans and God’s purposes”

“as the kingdoms of the world come and go God has been building this mighty kingdom with branches that stretch all over the world and peoples of every stripe and ethnic background and nation come and make their nest in these branches”

“Don’t be afraid to do small things at the prompting of God”

“look with the eyes of faith and see what God is up to as these mustard seeds grow into great trees”