June 13, 2021 - Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (Fr. Patrick Carr)

Ezekiel 17:22-24 • 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 • Mark 4:26-34

The heart of God aches to "tear off a tender shoot" from a mighty cedar and "plant it on a high and lofty mountain" so that "birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it." That is, the Lord wants to reveal his glory by taking up our insignificance and turning it into something "majestic" by the power of his love. "God's Kingdom," Pope Francis said, "is above all the initiative and gift of the Lord. Our weak effort, seemingly small before the complexity of the problems of the world, when integrated with God's effort, fears no difficulty. The victory of the Lord is certain... This opens us up to trust and hope, despite the tragedies, the injustices, the sufferings that we encounter." When we "walk by faith, not by sight," the hidden depths of things become apparent, and we remain vigorous and sturdy, "bearing fruit even in old age."