11th Sunday, Year B: Reflection by Fr Julian Ekeh

THEME: THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: A LITTLE BEGINNING THAT ENDS IN GOD

(Mark 4:26–34)

Jesus in the Gospel of Today talks about the Kingdom of God first as the seed scattered upon the ground. Secondly, as the mustard seed, which looks insignificant at the beginning but becomes great at last.

THE SCATTERED SEEDS

Narrating the first parable of today’s Gospel, Jesus compares the kingdom of God to the seed a man scattered and slept. It grew of its own, and when it is ripe, the man harvests.

The Lord has scattered each and every one of us in the world. He allows us to grow and be productive. He endows us with graces, favours, and blessed things of the earth, makes us responsible for them, and waits for us to give proper account at the end of the day. The Lord gives us freedom to make use of the numerous opportunities given to us to make heaven.

He wants you to grow. He has done His part. The rest is in your hands. Do not take His benevolence for granted. Do not think that He is sleeping away. Time shall come when He will come to harvest, then your achievements will speak for you.

You’ve got in you the potential for spiritual growth that takes you to heaven.

Do not waste the seeds of the kingdom in you. Africa and Nigeria have wasted a lot of seeds that should have been nourished to greatness. We have lost a lot in the past through insecurity, corruption, injustice, and hatred. The time for reckoning is coming. Let us make use of the time we have now to make this environment a better place, a kingdom of God on earth. Let us make good use of this moment to seek the ways of God and forestall the impending destruction that may visit when we fail to do the needful.

Do not waste the seed of your youth diminishing instead of living in accordance with the will of God for you. Do not get yourself involved in acts against the kingdom values.

VALUE THE MUSTARD SEED IN YOU

The little things that lead to the kingdom of God, to success, to greatness, and to fulfilment are the seeds deposited in us by God for noble purpose.

Since we are limited by sight, we may not understand them at the present. But we are encouraged to move on courageously and never look down on ourselves and what God can do through us.

What attracts the attention of God is found in our everydayness. They are found in the way we greet, we feel with people, perform our little roles and functions, in that simple smile, in checking up on our neighbours, in the cares we show, etc.

This parable speaks to our hearts to remain resolute, to be consistent in doing those little things and make them part of us. It is an invitation to keep growing in virtue. It calls on us to take one day at a time, to make positive steps towards positive ends.

This parable in a special way reminds us of the seed of faith sown in us at baptism, it challenges us to make it flourish so that it grows to what God intended when we were made heirs to His kingdom as infants.

Let us live in appreciation to the Lord who wills that we become great in every good work. This appreciation, in turn, will enable us as we grow to bring others to share the joy that flows from the kingdom of God. It makes us live lives that inspire people. It makes us live lives that win souls for Christ. We are made to participate in emptying hell fire and dispossessing the devil of his grip on children of God.

May you grow to the height God expects of you. May you attain the heavenly destination God willed for you. May you be a blessing and sign of the kingdom wherever you’re catapulted to.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

We thank You, Lord God, for explaining the secret of the Kingdom to us, Your mere little children. Give us the courage to be consistent in the little good things we do every day of our lives. Do not allow the seed of evil introduced by the enemy to deceive us and make us lose focus of our end. May we make heaven after all we are passing through here on earth. We make these prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Happy Sunday to you

(11th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh