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

My first science project was to plant a seed in a Styrofoam cup and keep track of its growth. My grandmother helped me dig up some dirt and plant the seed. I soaked it with water and put it on the windowsill.

The next morning, I woke up at 5:00 a.m. and ran to the window to see if it had grown. When I saw that nothing happened, I cried and ran to wake my grandmother up. “I think we killed the seed! It didn’t grow!” My grandmother laughed and assured me that I didn’t kill it and that it just takes time for the seed to grow. So, I asked her, “How will I know that the seed is growing? What if it isn’t growing and it’s dead?” She said that I just had to trust that it would grow because that’s what seeds do.

It took about a week or so, but I finally saw a little green shoot peeking up from just below the dirt. My grandmother was right. The seed grew because that’s what seeds do.

In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus uses the image of the seed to describe God’s Kingdom. Like a seed planted in the ground, God works in hidden ways. We cannot always understand what He is doing or why things are turning out the way they are. We wonder why He is not doing more to end suffering or why so many people do not believe in the gospel of love. But somehow our Heavenly Father is using all the world’s events — both the good and the bad — to bring His Kingdom to fruition. All we can do is trust that He has it all under control and that He knows what He’s doing. And we have to wait patiently until it is finally manifested in all its glory.

We can understand the truth of Jesus’ words by looking at our own history. There were probably times when we couldn’t understand why people left our lives, why our careers didn’t turn out the way we thought, or why what we expected out of life never came to pass. Looking back, however, we can see how everything fit into place. Without knowing it and without controlling it, the pieces came together. Now we can’t imagine our lives being any different. Like the seed hidden in the soil, we blossomed in ways that we could never have planned on our own. We realize that it could only have been by God’s plan that it all worked out.

Saint Paul describes the attitude we must have, “We walk by faith and not by sight.” In a culture hostile to the gospel of life, we base our decisions not on what is popular and convenient, but on what God has revealed through His Church. In a society that devalues the dignity of human life, we work to feed the hungry, care for the sick, and visit prisoners. We can only persevere in living the good news by trusting that God will somehow make it worthwhile even if we don’t see any progress.

We walk by faith and not by sight. God’s Kingdom is growing silently, but surely, because that’s what God’s Kingdom does. We won’t see the Kingdom in full flower until we enter into our heavenly reward. But we can be sure that just as the flower is more beautiful than the seed it grew from, so God’s Kingdom will be infinitely more glorious than anything we can imagine. Until then, no matter how dark and hopeless our world may seem, we live, work, and pray with trust that it is all going according to God’s plan.

Douglas Sousa
 

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,
We trust in Your goodness and love.
You treat everything You have created with compassion.
Your Spirit is at work giving us growth
And allowing us to flourish.
We place ourselves into Your loving hands
With full confidence that You are at work
Even when the world seems to be a
Cold and dark place.
We work with confidence
That You are bringing Your plan to fruition
Even through our meager efforts.
May we always persevere in faith, hope, and love
Through your Son, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

READINGS FOR JUNE 13, 2021
11^th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

1^st Reading—Ezekiel 17: 22-24— “The Lord will raise Israel like a tree on a high mountain. It shall put forth branches, bear fruit and become a majestic cedar.”

Responsorial Psalm: 92: 2-3, 13-14, 15-16—“Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.”

2^nd Reading—2 Corinthians 5: 6-10—Even though we are in the flesh, our intent is to please the Lord. For when our earthly walk of faith is done, everything shall be revealed before Christ.

Gospel Acclamation—Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, give the glory and the honor to the Lord! “The seed is the Word of God; Christ is the sower. All who come to him will live forever.”

Gospel—Mark 4: 26-34—The reign of God is like a mustard seed. It is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the biggest shrub of all. By means of parables Jesus taught the people.


11TH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR - B - JUNE 13. 2021
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

1) Let us pray for the Church:
          God of heaven and earth, plant the seed of Christ's love
in our world through your Church.
                Add to our number those who follow Jesus.
      

2) Let us pray for our nation:
          Stir in our world a spirit of hope, O Lord.
          Deepen in our country a respect for life and the dignity
                   of every person.
        


3) Let us remember those who suffer violence:
          Bring peace, O Lord, to our brothers and sisters who endure the
hatred of war and oppression. Bless all who serve in the military.
        

4) Let us pray for the sick:
          Show your compassion for those who bear heavy burdens of pain or illness, especially --
           Betty Morici        Reagan Bahling            Abby Gels       Monica Geisler
          Jon Barber          Joyce Stewart      Rita Bullard        Nelda Gaston
          Fred Gonzalez     Gerald Crossman          Joyce Bond          Marge Flanigan                       Chuck & Sandra Marteney
          And all who have asked for our prayers.
         

5)  Let us remember the dead:
          May our loved ones proclaim your kindness at dawn and
          your faithfulness throughout the night. Especially…
          (5:00 Mass)  Frederick & Mariah Andre
          (8:30 Mass)  Frank Genovese
          (10:30 Mass)  Jose` & Joyce Olmeda
          
6) Let us pray for our personal needs:
          May we welcome all who come to us in need and like the mustard seed, may we grow in love and faith.     We pray to the Lord . . .



ANNOUNCEMENTS—June 13, 2021
 

1. Next Weekend our Right-to-Life representative, Mary Siring, will have candy bars for sale on Father’s Day. Give dad a sweet treat!

2. This Thursday, June 17, come visit the Village of Ortonville for Eats in the Streets and a free family movie from 4 to 9 p.m. for more information, see the flier in the bulletin.

3. On Tuesday, June 15^th from 6:30 to 8 p.m. the Middle School Youth Group will meet in Solanus Hall.