Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

06-16-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Madison Hayes

On this Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, we reflect on the profound messages of hope and resilience that scripture offers us, drawing particularly from the insights of the prophet Ezekiel and the teachings of St. Paul.

Ezekiel, ranked among the major prophets, offers us a vision of hope from Babylonia born of his experience as a priest in exile. He speaks of the Lord planting “a tender shoot” on the “high and lofty mountain” of Israel. This imagery is not just poetic but deeply symbolic, representing a future filled with hope. Despite the profound loss of the Temple, a consequence of Judah’s sins, Ezekiel reassures us of God’s undiminished power. In a world where the defeat of a deity was symbolized by the destruction of their temple and the subjugation of their statue, Ezekiel boldly declares that our God is neither defeated nor dead. He is alive and actively present among His people, capable of both humbling the mighty and exalting the humble, of withering the green tree and revitalizing the withered.

This message of hope is beautifully echoed in Psalm 92, which we recite with faith in our hearts, confident in the restoration of Israel and the Temple through God’s unwavering faithfulness. “They that are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God,” the Psalmist sings, reminding us of the flourishing life promised to those who remain steadfast in their faith.

St. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, extends this theme of hope by addressing the Christian community’s own form of exile. He reminds us that, in a very real sense, we are all exiles in this world, yearning for our true home with God. Yet, even as we navigate this earthly existence “away from the Lord,” we are called to live in a manner pleasing to Him, anchored by our faith and trust in His providence. It is in this daily living and aspiring to please God that we find our strength and purpose.

Indeed, it is the power of God to nurture and grow even the “smallest of all the seeds” scattered across the land that inspires us. This seed, seemingly insignificant, sprouts and grows in ways beyond our understanding, symbolizing the kingdom of God that flourishes in unexpected places and circumstances. The temptation to compare our spiritual journey or community with others can be strong, especially in places where the Church may seem in a state of exile. Yet, such comparisons are fruitless. God, in His wisdom, breathes new life into His Church, promising eternal life to all who come to Him.

So, we take to heart the message of hope and resilience that today’s readings offer us. Like the tender shoot planted by the Lord, may we grow and flourish in our faith, nurtured by the knowledge of God’s active presence and faithfulness. Remember, no matter where we find ourselves, to give thanks to the Lord, to proclaim His kindness and faithfulness. For in His love and power we find our true home and the promise of eternal life.