11TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)

1st Reading              Ezekiel 17: 22-24

Psalm                         Ps. 92: 1-2.12-13.14-15 (R. 1a)

R//: "It is good to give thanks to you, O Lord"

2nd Reading           2 Corinthians 5: 6-10

Gospel                      Mark 4: 26-34

FROM TENDER SHOOT TO MIGHTY CEDAR, SEED INTO TREE: FATHERS WITHIN THE KINGDOM 

Aside from today being the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B), today being Fathers' Day is much celebrated in many places. Today, we also celebrate and pray for all Fathers, both biological and spiritual. Happy Fathers' Day. In that line, we shall draw vivid lessons from the Word of God for the 11th Sunday to speak to our Fathers and potential Fathers.

The First Reading (Ezekiel 17:22-24), a brief narrative, needs to be understood in the light of the larger context of Ezekiel 17. Ezekiel 17 tells of the "Parable of two Eagles and a Vine." The author, using agricultural language, shrouds the present Political Situation of the Kingdom of Judah in a beautiful parable of two Eagles that each attempted to control a particular vine. He uses the image of Eagles because they were a symbol of power, strength, freedom, and dominance in ancient cultures, including Israel (Isaiah 40:31; Deut. 32:11-12). The two Eagles represent two strong nations. 

The first Eagle is Babylon, ruled by Nebuchadnezzar and besieged Judah, the Vine, in 605 BC, at the time Jehoiachin was ruling Judah. Nebuchadnezzar took away Jehoiachin and many Jews to Babylon in 597 BC. The author says, "He (The first Eagle) plucked the crest of the cedar, broke off its topmost branch, and brought it to a land of merchants" (Ezek. 17: 4).  Instead, he installed Zedekiah as a puppet King of Judah and made a Covenant with Zedekiah so that Judah would be a "slave" or "servant" Kingdom of Babylon. If Zedekiah obeys the terms of the oath or covenant, Judah will survive. Breaking it will mean disaster and doom for Judah. However, the sensitivity in such oaths was that there is an appeal to the divinities of the contracting parties. This means that YHWH will be involved in that oath. Zedekiah broke the oath. 

The second Eagle is Egypt. This is the result of Zedekiah's breakage of the oath. Around 595/4 BC, Zedekiah rebels against Babylon, seeking Egyptian support so that the Kingdom of Judah could be free from Babylon and rise again. The wrong was in seeking human assistance when he could have sought divine assistance. Seeking divine assistance for freedom will not be a breakage of the oath since YHWH is involved in such an oath. Egypt was not part of the oath, and seeking Egyptian assistance was an outright breakage of the oath. God will surely be angry also because the Kingdom of Judah is doomed to be destroyed, and Jerusalem, the House of God, will be destroyed. By 594/3 BC, Ezekiel receives the vision from God condemning the act of Zedekiah and says Babylon will capture Jerusalem, and Zedekiah himself would be taken captive by 587/6 BC. It is within the vision of Ezekiel that we find the first reading (Ezekiel 17: 22-24). 

Let us look at three details from the first reading in this delight. The first detail is: I, too, will pluck from the crest of the cedar the highest branch. From the top of a tender shoot... (v. 22). We shall immediately notice that what the first Eagle, Babylon,  did (Ezek. 17: 3-4), the Lord will do. This a battle of Eagles. The first Eagle took away the topmost branch and sent it to a land of merchants, but the Lord put a tender branch in a high mountain. This is not only a reversal but a restoration. The high mountain tells of nearness to God, thus the Kingdom of God. Where the Kingdom of God comes in as the "third Eagle", there will be a reversal and the flourishing of the weak and the vulnerable. The highest branch is the Royal Line, the line of the King. The existing line is the Davidic Dynasty. One from this Dynasty, a weak and feeble person, will rise to save the situation, and his rise will secure the presence and might of God among his people, thus establishing the Kingdom of God. In fact, such a one is referred to as a "tender shoot". The Hebrew word used there is "RAK", which means "weak, soft, and feeble". What is weak will become majestic and point to God's presence among his people. No other person fulfils this than the Messiah, from the line of David, the Highest Branch.

The second detail is that in this mighty and majestic tree, "every small bird will nest under it..." (v. 23). Remember that the image used for the two great kingdoms is an Eagle, and an Eagle is a bird. "Every small bird" will suggest that every kingdom, especially those under oppression, will find solace and strength in this tender shoot that had become so mighty and big. The Kingdom of Judah, by the rise of this tender shoot, will be a shining example and refuge to all other nations. 

The third detail is that "I will bring low the high tree, lift up the lowly tree..." (v. 24). With the presence of the "majestic cedar" that was once "a tender shoot", every mighty tree will be subdued. The language resonates with the Song of Hannah (1 Sam. 2:1-10) and the New Testament Magnificat (Lk. 1: 46-55; Matt. 11: 25-27). 

In the Gospel (Mark 4: 26-33), Jesus also tells two parables about the Kingdom of God, using agricultural language. This is very similar to the preliminary observations identified about the first reading. The Kingdom of God is the presence of God among his people. When God is in the midst of his people, what is ruling and oppressing becomes the least, and the least become the great ones. 

From the First Parable, "a man throws a seed on the Land" (Mk. 4: 26). Realise that in the first reading, we talked about the "tender shoot", which is a young plant. In the Gospel, we are talking about "a seed" (Grk: sporos). A big tree is contained in a small, weak, and feeble seed. Interestingly, "the land of its own accord yields fruit" (v. 28). Because Jesus is talking about the Kingdom of God, the Land on which the seed is scattered becomes that Kingdom. The Kingdom itself ensures that the seed grows and yields fruit. This is without human effort. In fact, the Greek word translated as "of its own accord" is "automatē", and it means "automatically," implying "something done by its own power". It makes it true, in relation to the first reading, that the Kingdom of God has what it takes to make what is vulnerable and weak very much powerful and strong. In fact, the small seed bears much fruit and there is harvest.

The second parable is about the mustard seed. It is very small and weak but grows into a shrub. Interestingly, what the majestic Cedar offers in the first reading (Ezek. 17:23), the Mustard Seed sown in the ground, in the Kingdom, grown into a shrub, offers the same. Thus, "birds of the sky can dwell in its shade" (Mk. 4: 32). 

As we celebrate Fathers' Day, this reflection has a lot to offer to Fathers and all who play fatherly roles.

We begin to realise that, from the biological point of view, Fathers are "seeds". Divine order puts it right that it is through the meeting of the "seed" from a man and the "egg" of a woman that a child is formed. This grows into a "majestic cedar" or a shrub that other other people look up to it for strength. Fathers play very vital roles in bringing forth life. However, we must also emphasise responsible parenthood. As well, we must pray for those husbands who are unable to exercise this ability due to various physical, biological, or spiritual hindrances. To some, Fathers are weak like "tender shoots," but in the Kingdom of God, they are mighty cedars. 

The second thing is that, unlike Zedekiah, do not rely on human strength, whether your own or of others. Look up to God for guidance and strength. The work may be tiresome, but look to the Kingdom of kingdoms, the Eagle of eagles when the challenges and difficulties of life present their ugly heads, especially in family issues. This does not mean human strength is not necessary. Hunan strength is not enough. God will provide the strength and provide for the journey. Allow the Kingdom of God to be the working force in your every endeavour. Present your families daily before God in prayer. 

Finally, to be a Father is to learn to live within the Kingdom. Do not present yourself too high outside the Kingdom that when we try putting you in the Kingdom, you become very low. 

May God bless all Fathers and grant eternal rest to all Fathers who have died. 

Pax et Bonum