HOMILY
FOR THE 11TH SUNDAY OF THE ORDINARY TIME
Rev.
Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi
In the Gospel of today,
we encounter the parable of the mustard seed (Mark 4:30-32). This parable is in
itself classical. It presents serious lessons for life. In that brief parable,
there are three major stages in the life of the mustard seed. The first stage
is the state of the seed before its planting. The second stage is the stage of
planting and of growth. The third stage is the stage of hosting other
creatures. Let us look at these stages.
The
first stage
The story makes us
aware that the mustard is the smallest of all seeds. In comparison with every
others seed, it is the least. In hierarchy, it is at the lowest level. This means
that if the mustard seed were to be human, it most likely suffers from
humiliation because of its size. It will be neglected in great functions and
occasions. It is relegated to the background. It is regarded as riffraff.
However, the mustard continues to allow itself to be small. It does not
complain about its size because it is sure that the small beginning does not
guarantee a small ending. And I hear the mustard seed saying: my
small stature will never determine my final statue. It is sure that it
can be the tiniest today, but may not be the tiniest tomorrow. While other seed
are banking on their loftiness in the early beginnings, the mustard is banking
on developing itself for a better tomorrow.
Think about how
Christianity began from men who were almost regarded as the poorest in the
society. Looking at the calibre of men Jesus selected for that mission of
establishing the kingdom of God on earth, one may be inclined to ridicule Jesus
for starting very porously. Another may expect that he should have selected the
scribes and the learned that already had some respect in the society. Surely, this
would help the people to take their message seriously. Serious message of
course requires serious messengers. However, Jesus did not call these
intelligent men. He started with lowly men. And now, lowliness has turned into
greatness. The Lord looks upon his servant in her lowliness; henceforth, all
generations shall call her blessed (cf. Luke 1:48). Starting low does not
entail ending low. It is even better to start low so that when the end comes
out big, it will be better appreciated. Your small stature today is not
something that should lead you into annoyance and constant self abandonment. It
should be something that should spur you to hard work.
The
Second stage
Yet when the mustard
seed was planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants. What a
miraculous metamorphosis. This is a move from the lowest to the highest. All
the mustard seed did was to keep growing without being intimidated by other
plants. It knew that interestedness in others and most probably jealousy may
lead it to confusion and retrogression. Why are you killing yourself over the
achievements of others? Why not work on yourself? Why not grow up? Why not
concentrate on the resources available to you and become the best out of them?
Many a time, we fail to grow because of our inordinate competition. We allow
ourselves to miss the mark because we are merely trying to be another person. We
are unique and in our uniqueness, we succeed.
The church as the
kingdom of God on earth has grown and continues to grow. She develops herself
through the experiences she has made in the past so as to be really united at
the end of time with the kingdom of God in heaven. She has remained unshaken by
the vicissitudes of history. She stands tall and continues to be the conscience
of the society. The moment of growth is not an easy one. And that is why every
growth must be anchored on an authentic external strength. The spirit of God
has never left the Church. For the mustard to grow there must be nutrients,
just as the growth of the Church remains thankful to the Holy Spirit. The Church
remains the major agent in the history of the global civilization. I once asked
myself: if there had been no Church, how would the world be today? The Church that
started with fishermen has produced the greatest of intelligent men in history.
The seed has become the biggest tree. You can also translate your humble
beginning to the biggest ending.
The
Third stage
The birds of the air can
perch in its shade. The mustard seed, now a tree which has converted its small
beginning to a renowned level has now invited other creatures to live on it. It
has become a home for all. It has become the solace of the afflicted. It has
become the hiding place of creatures against heavy rainfall and scorching sunshine.
However, the tree still stands and will keep standing. The mustard tree has
really a lot to teach us. When we become great after series of hard work, we
must understand that we are blessed to bless others. We are made successful to
make others succeed. We are raised to lift others. We must not because of the
rough experiences of the early beginnings convert the successful ending to a
life of wickedness. Many will come for help, for habitation, for security; yes,
and we are bound to accept that reality.
The Church, no doubt
has become an organization that gives people peace. Many in the world, Christians
and non-Christians alike have found help and safety under its branches. Institutions
of mercy and love have emerged from this magnificent tree –the Church. Another interpretation
we must note in the parable of the mustard seed is the fact that the kingdom of
God can be a mixture of good and evil, in such a way that the evil are
permitted to be co-habiting with the good (cf. The parable of the tares). We must
not deny that on this mustard tree could be creatures that are merely there for
the resourcefulness of the tree in giving them shelter. And since there is free
entrance and habitation, it is not ruled out that evil can also claim to be
good and so inhabit on this tree. The church is a community of saints and
sinners; saints who aspire for more saintliness, and sinners who desire to be
out of sin. Do not be discouraged when you experience evil. Some may actually
be using the church as a cover up for their evil deeds.
Another point with
which we conclude concerns what happens when we turn wealthy, influential and
greatly important. We must realize that the greater we become, the more
hypocrites we get as friends. This is why great men are always betrayed by
those regarded as close friends. Utility friendship grows with success. Those who
come when greatness comes your way might actually be coming for the greatness,
and not for the person. Despite this reality, do not stop doing good. Do good
anyway. The mustard does not stop allowing the birds of the air to live on it
for the reason of avoiding hypocrites. Otherwise it may reject also the genuine
ones. All we need do is to grow in this consciousness. And so we must end by repeating the conviction of the mustard seed: my early stature will not determine my final statue, as my final statue will reflect the humility of my early stature. God bless you.
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