SUNDAY: HOMILY FOR 11TH SUNDAY HOMILY OF ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B
SUNDAY: HOMILY FOR 11TH SUNDAY HOMILY OF ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B
HOMILY THEME: ONLY GOD CAN MAKE A THING GROW
BY: Fr. Justus Oruh
Ezekiel 17:22-24; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10; Mark 4:26-34
(a) Christ uses some parables to make clear to us the reality of Heaven and how it works out. It usually works out from two unequal dimensions. The first is our meagre and limited contribution. It is like a farmer who sows the seed and have done all he could. He could not do any other thing further. The Scripture says he slept woke up and saw that what is sown has grown, “how? He does not know”. This later dimension is beyond his capacity. He could sow and have done his part but but cannot make it grow. He has to wait on the Lord who makes what is sown to grow and bear fruits with his blessings. We can increase something by adding upon them but only God can make a thing grow. “So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (1 Cor. 3:7). This is a lesson for those who think that everything is thanks to their power and might.
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(b) Heaven comes to reality to those who have done their own part as humans. God grants the growth and the fruition of our effort. How? We do not know. This part belongs to God and is beyond us. It is given to us from above but we must do our part to realize the Heaven even though we do not acquire Heaven by our works. Had the farmer not sown anything, he would not have expected any harvest (recompense) at the end. Heaven grants success to our efforts and handworks. In this way, our prayer, “thy Kingdom come” becomes real. Heaven is not realized among those who do nothing but are only expecting the wonder from the part of God, they do not realize it, neither here nor any recompense at the end of life.
(c) This parable tells also about patience. The farmer, when he could not do anything further, ie. after having exhausted his capacities had to wait patiently on the Lord. God granted the growth but it took time and came in various stages; it first sprouted, produced blades, later fruits and then come harvest time. In our efforts to be good, to reach a target, to achieve a goal, we are to be patient with ourself and with God. We may have fallen several times and made mistakes. Never quit. Patience! The Kingdom of Heaven is realized with patience. The good you do may seem little like the mustard seed but God grants its growth. Even a cup of water you give to quench the thirst of a needy will not go unrewarded in Heaven (Mk. 9). The little good we do, make the Kingdom of Heaven a reality among us.
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