The Mustard Seed and the World Today

In the readings for the 11th Sunday of ordinary time, we hear the image of seeds and trees as a major theme. In the first reading, the prophet  Ezekiel reminds us that the Lord will plant a shoot on the mountains heights of Israel  and it will be bear so much fruit that it will become a majestic cedar. This perhaps is an image of the tree, that many years later, will stand in a form of a cross in the mountain of Calvary. Surely that tree, shaped in the form of a cross, gave so much fruit that even after 2000 years, we are gather here today.  It became a majestic cedar that it provided life for all, gave power to the sacraments, formed an intimate union with God and his creation, instituted the cross, to only name a few. More importantly, the prophet Ezekiel reminds us that everyone will know that the Lord is powerful because He can bring low the high tree, lift high the low tree, wither the green tree, and blossom the wither tree. If the lord can do this with a tree, how much more can he do this with our own lives? 

In the Gospel, we hear Jesus giving us two parables describing the kingdom of God. However, I would like to focus on the second one: the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed that when is sown, it is the smallest of the seeds. But once it grows, it becomes the largest  and gives great branches that even the birds can rest there. What Jesus is trying to tells us here is that we are that mustard seed. He is the sower that has planted within us the seed that must bear fruit. It is in our baptism when receive this seed and must be constantly nourished by the other sacraments, especially that of the Eucharist. 

Now, why is this important for us today? It is important because it sheds light into what is happening in the world today. This past year has been full of great  trials and persecution for the church. The pandemic forced us to closed our parishes and forced us to worship in a way we have not done before. Many  will not come back, others became comfortable in worshiping God from home, and others took this an opportunity to strengthen their faith. And for us? What has this year done to the mustard seed that was planted in us by the great sower? Jesus is clear when he says that the seed must grow and give much fruit. Have we given much fruit? Some concrete ways to give fruit is by showing our faith to everyone we meet. By inviting back those people you know that have left the church because of the pandemic. By praying a holy hour or a rosary.  By attending the celebration of the mass each day. By going to confession as often as we can. By preaching the crucified Lord through our deeds and actions. As we behind reopening our churches and going back to normality, we must continue to nourish the seed within us. We cannot be passive participators in the work of God. In Pentecost, our mission became to know Jesus and to make others know Him. That must involve active participation from our part and will be needed more than ever as we go back to normal. St. Paul, in the second reading, reminds us that we will all appear before Christ to receive recompense according to what we did. When the time comes and we see Him face to face, He will ask us to show him our fruit. To show him the results of our faith. And what shall we present to him? 

Even though he ascended to the father, Jesus gave us the Eucharist as our spiritual  food for the journey. It is the Eucharist — his very own body and blood— that strengthens our faith. It is the Eucharist that gives us the power to bear much fruit. We gather around the altar to receive his body and blood. So ask Him for the graces we need to continue  to bear much fruit so that when we meet Him again, he can welcome us into the kingdom of God.