11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The beginning of today’s Gospel (Mark 4:26-34) tells of Jesus beginning his public ministry by proclaiming that the reign of God is at hand, and calling all to repent and believe the Good News. Jesus invites us to repent and experience conversion of heart. He calls on us to actively participate in the kingdom.

Repentance, conversion, and participation are the fruits of Jesus drawing us to himself. It is as if Jesus is pulling us to himself constantly until we finally let go of whatever is holding us back. It is God’s grace and unconditional love that beckon us.

Our First Reading today from the prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 17:22-24) describes God’s action of raising up the lowly tree and then making the withered trees bloom. This prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus, who reveals God’s kingdom on earth. God intentionally reaches out to those who are sinners, which would be all of us! In order to receive the kingdom, we must be open to God’s word. In faith, the word is planted like a seed in our hearts where, by its own power, it grows until the harvest.

To live in the kingdom requires that we act on our faith. Jesus shows us good works throughout the Gospel. He heals the sick, cures the leper, casts out evil spirits, feeds the hungry – all while sharing the Good News of the Gospel. What can we do to live out our faith in the kingdom of God today? Parents nurse sick children. Friends forgive and reconcile with one another. We sacrifice some of our time, talent, and income for our brothers and sisters in need. We teach, cook, clean, and care for others. In our workplace, we show respect for the dignity of all persons. The list can go on and on.

The point is that the kingdom is here and the kingdom is now. It has already begun to be made present in our very midst though we will not experience the fullness of God’s kingdom until the Second Coming of Christ, and perhaps not even then if the Lord does not judge us worthy of it. In the meantime, everything we do in our day-to-day lives should consciously reflect to the world that we are God’s people; that we are united in Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. If our thoughts, words, and actions are centered on Jesus, then we are indeed a “kingdom people.”