Reflections on the readings for the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (June 17, 2018): EZ 17:22-24; PS 92:2-3,13-14,15-16; 2 COR 5:6-10; MK 4:26-34
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
Today’s readings call us to consider our faith in Christ as shown by the way we live day by day.
Ultimately, our goal is to spend eternity with Almighty God, something we tend to forget in the busyness of everyday life. As Catholics, we believe that Jesus is the Son of God who came to die for our salvation, to open the gates of heaven to all sinners who turn to Him with repentance and allow Him to transform us. Yet even in our efforts to be good people by helping others and developing our relationship with God, we often focus on what we do rather than who we are. We must remain aware that we are the beloved children of God who cares for us now, even as He waits for us to be with Him forever.
St. Paul knew what is meant to turn from sin and turn himself over to the will of God. As a follower of our Redeemer who had once persecuted Christians, he atoned for his past and preached the Good News. Yet his new way of life was a hard path to follow. The same is true for many of us. We need to remember “We walk by faith, not by sight. Yet we are courageous … For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:7-8, 10). We need to entrust ourselves to God who will guide us in becoming the holy, compassionate people He knows we can be here, even as we prepare for the hereafter.