{"id":2059,"date":"2024-06-25T13:59:43","date_gmt":"2024-06-25T18:59:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/?page_id=2059"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:00:29","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:00:29","slug":"the-eleventh-sunday-in-ordinary-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/index.php\/2024\/06\/25\/the-eleventh-sunday-in-ordinary-time\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2014The Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2059\" class=\"elementor elementor-2059\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b8d22d7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"25782\" data-id=\"b8d22d7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-99f195b\" data-eae-slider=\"64808\" data-id=\"99f195b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c77524 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7c77524\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-29335d4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"55390\" data-id=\"29335d4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_bottom&quot;:&quot;book&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-bottom\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 100\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M194,99c186.7,0.7,305-78.3,306-97.2c1,18.9,119.3,97.9,306,97.2c114.3-0.3,194,0.3,194,0.3s0-91.7,0-100c0,0,0,0,0-0 L0,0v99.3C0,99.3,79.7,98.7,194,99z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2633fe8\" data-eae-slider=\"94769\" data-id=\"2633fe8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-99c059b elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"99c059b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac32618 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ac32618\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reading I<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ce29ca elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4ce29ca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/ezekiel\/17?22\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Ezekiel 17:22-24<\/strong><\/a><\/span><br \/>Thus says the Lord GOD: I, too, will take from the crest of the cedar, from its topmost branches tear off a tender shoot, and plant it on a high and lofty mountain; on the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it. It shall put forth branches and bear fruit, and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it, every winged thing in the shade of its boughs. And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the LORD, bring low the high tree, lift high the lowly tree, wither up the green tree, and make the withered tree bloom. As I, the LORD, have spoken, so will I do.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-568d889 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"568d889\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Responsorial Psalm<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-352e7ef elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"352e7ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/psalms\/92?2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/><em><strong>R. (cf. 2a) Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.<br \/><\/strong><\/em>It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praise to your name, Most High, To proclaim your kindness at dawn and your faithfulness throughout the night. <br \/><em><strong>R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.<\/strong><\/em><br \/>The just one shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow. They that are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. <br \/><em><strong>R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.<\/strong><\/em><br \/>They shall bear fruit even in old age; vigorous and sturdy shall they be, Declaring how just is the LORD, my rock, in whom there is no wrong. <br \/><em><strong>R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0ffa7f7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0ffa7f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reading II<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-cc15548 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"60074\" data-id=\"cc15548\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-060206b\" data-eae-slider=\"3040\" data-id=\"060206b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5dc261d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5dc261d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/2corinthians\/5?6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em><strong>2 Corinthians 5:6-10<\/strong><\/em><\/a><br \/>Brothers and sisters: We are always courageous, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord. Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away. 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.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-87353ac elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"87353ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Alleluia<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-ff46c7f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"55858\" data-id=\"ff46c7f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-8b74efa\" data-eae-slider=\"36145\" data-id=\"8b74efa\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c71559 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3c71559\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em><strong>R. Alleluia, alleluia.<\/strong><\/em> <br \/>The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower. All who come to him will live forever. <br \/><em><strong>R. Alleluia, alleluia.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-055ecc5\" data-eae-slider=\"34851\" data-id=\"055ecc5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc12a73 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cc12a73\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Gospel<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e16f610 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e16f610\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/mark\/4?26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Mark 4:26-34<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>Jesus said to the crowds: \u201cThis is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and through it all the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.\u201d He said, \u201cTo what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.\u201d With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7016bb1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7016bb1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Exegesis<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e224d3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e224d3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/ezekiel\/17?22\">Ezekiel 17:22-24<\/a><\/strong><\/span><br \/>Our pericope from the Prophet Ezekiel consists of the last three verses of Chapter 17. It con-cludes a series of allegories that begin in verses 1-10. It is a story of two eagles. The first eagle is Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon and the second great eagle represents Psammetichus II, king of Egypt. The first eagle carries off the topmost twig, Jehoichin, taken off into Babylon into exile in 598 BCE. The vine planted by Nebuchadrezzar turns toward the second great eagle, the king of Egypt for assistance.<br \/>Verses 11-21 explain the riddle of the two eagles in historical detail and God bemoans the infidel-ity and the destruction of Israel. Verse 22 begins the promise of God to restore Israel. The alle-gory picks up from verse 10 and God says, \u201cI, too, will take from the crest of the Cedar\u2026\u201d This twig represents the future king from the house of David. (See <a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/2samuel\/7?13\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>2 Sam 7:13<\/strong><\/span><\/a>) The expression birds of every kind in verse 23 was first used in scripture in the story of Noa and the flood to describe all of the bird species on the Ark. It would thus seem to represent the people of the earth as saved by God. The majestic cedar represents the king of Judah. The trees of the field represent the sur-rounding kings. It is God who lifts high the lowly tree, the king of Judah, once brought low in Babylon. It is God who brings low the high tree, the king of Babylon. This is the story of the hand of God restoring Israel again, the second great paradigm of salvation history.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-acdbdbf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"acdbdbf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/psalms\/92?2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>Psalm 92 is titled A Hymn of Thanksgiving for God\u2019s Fidelity, A Sabbath Song. The song con-trasts the joy and gratitude of those who are faithful to Yahweh with the plight of evildoers. The evildoers are not included in the selected verses for the liturgy. They are doomed to eternal de-struction. The psalmist, representing the faithful of Israel, is overwhelmed with gratitude for the love, faithfulness, and steadfastness of God. The image of God as Rock represents the steadfast love of God and God\u2019s immutability. The image of the cedar tree of Lebanon echoes the promise of God in our first reading from <a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/ezekiel\/17?22\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Ez. 17:22<\/strong><\/span><\/a>. It is God who plants, nourishes, protects and exalts the cedar tree. And for that the psalmist if filled with gratitude.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e6f3db elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6e6f3db\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/2corinthians\/5?6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>2 Corinthians 5:6-10<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>In verse 1 of Chapter 5 St. Paul states, \u201cFor we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.\u201d Paul uses the same language as Jesus captured by Mark (<a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/mark\/14?58\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Mk 14:58<\/strong><\/span><\/a>) when He talked about de-stroying the temple referring to His body and raising a new dwelling not made with hands, i.e. His risen body. A tent is made by human hands and by its very nature is a temporary transient dwelling. Whereas an eternal dwelling in heaven is by its very nature permanent.<br \/>Given the introductory verses our pericope supports the in-between, in process, evolving theme of the Kingdom of God not yet fulfilled. In this body, in the corporeal realm we are not able to ex-perience the fullness of the promise of eternal life. What we do while at home in the body has consequences that matter relative to the promise of eternal life. To walk by faith means to follow and walk with Christ in the here and now. It means to courageously remain faithful and to persevere until the end.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6aab35f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6aab35f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/mark\/4?26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Mark 4:26-34<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God both as at hand, in the here and now, in process and as al-ready fulfilled and prepared for us. The two parables on the Kingdom of God in our passage to-day speak of the kingdom here on earth that is still in process. These two kingdom parables are the only kingdom parables in Mark\u2019s gospel.<br \/>In both parables there is a working partnership between God and humanity. In the first parable a man \u201cscatters seed upon the earth.\u201d This is a little shocking in that it was customary to meticu-lously sow seeds and not carelessly \u201cscatter them.\u201d Seeds were a lot of work to harvest and store for future planting. Food was scarce and precious. It would be prudent to sow them carefully in good soil that would provide the highest yield. Despite that the mystery of God, the mysterious and miraculous forces of life take over and the seed germinates in the darkness of the earth, sprouts through the surface and new life emerges. God continues to create new life; creation is an ongoing reality in the eyes of the ancient world. Human beings harvest and prepare the seeds, they prepare the soil, they sow the seeds, pull the weeds, and protect the crops from birds and scavengers. God provides the hidden mystery of life, sends the rains and provides the sunshine and the harvest matures and bears fruit. Then man steps in and harvests the crops and reaps the fruits of his labors and God\u2019s graces. In terms of the kingdom of God at hand, in the here and now, we are part of God\u2019s plan, an integral part of God\u2019s plan.<br \/>Now consider the mustard seed, the tiniest of seeds. When sown in the ground it becomes the largest of plants that can grow upwards of six feet tall. Each plant produces thousands of tiny seeds for future generation. Think of the power of life contained in that one tiny seed. It is testi-mony to the power of God. The mustard plant was known for its ability to germinate rapidly and take over a garden if not controlled.<br \/>\u201cBut once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.\u201d Jesus uses this imagery from the Word of God through the Prophet Ezekiel (our first reading this weekend) where God takes a sprig from the great cedar, and He plants it in Jerusalem and \u201cIt shall put forth branches and bear fruit and be-come a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it, every winged thing in the shade of its boughs.\u201d In the first reading God is restoring Israel after the Babylonian Exile. \u201cIf so, then the reign of God proclaimed by Jesus is, like the renewal of Israel, the place where living crea-tures find refuge.\u201d<em><strong>1<\/strong> <\/em>Like the Exodus event, the restoration of Israel after the Exile by the power of God, is a paradigm for salvation. Therefore, these parables remind us that we are a part of God\u2019s plan of salvation and the mysterious power of God is working with us.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e005e0 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"5e005e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a58a9bc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a58a9bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><em>1. John R. Donahue, S.J., Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., Sacra Pagina Series, The Gospel of Mark, L.P. Collegeville, MN., Page 152.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f41bf79 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f41bf79\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reflection<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d266f89 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d266f89\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Jesus talked often about the Kingdom of God. He talked about the Kingdom of God that al-ready is prepared for us, already fulfilled that waits for those who love Him. He also talked about the Kingdom of God that is at hand, the Kingdom of God among us, and the Kingdom of God still in process, still evolving, sometimes visible and sometimes hidden and mysterious like a seed germinating below the surface.<br \/>In this weekend\u2019s Gospel, describing the Kingdom of God, Jesus says it is like a seed that is planted and germinates. Even though we can\u2019t always see the growth and the new life coming into being it is still happening. A man plants the seed and God causes the growing and the tiny seed eventually grows into this gigantic plant that bears fruit and that produces more seeds, and the process continues.<br \/>People at the time of Jesus were very much an agricultural people. They were close to the earth and engaged with nature. When Jesus used images related to agriculture and nature in His parables, they had to be very vivid and alive for them. Conversely, today, as a culture we tend to be more and more disconnected from the earth and from nature. We look at creation as an histor-ical event, e.g. the big bang that occurred 12 to 13 billion years ago. The people in Jesus\u2019 day saw creation more as an ongoing reality. They saw themselves as even co-creators with God. They would prepare the soil, plant the seeds, pull the weeds, and God would send the rain and produce the sunshine and the seeds would grow. They would sleep and rise, and days would pass, and the crops would grow. They envisioned themselves as working hand-in-hand with God. This is the Kingdom of God, Jesus tells us, in the here and now. We are a part of God\u2019s plan. The Kingdom of God is still evolving in our hearts, in our lives and families, in our parishes, in our Church, in our community and in our world\u2026 in and through us!<br \/>Jesus is reminding us to trust in the sometimes-invisible movement of His Spirit. Just be-cause we can\u2019t see the seeds growing in the ground, it does not mean that they are not growing and maturing. Kingdom work requires faith and trust in God. Kingdom work requires patience and endurance and perseverance. Together with the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us we can and will make a difference in our world. And again, I remind you that there is no backup plan. We are it! Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of us your faithful and enkindle is us the fire of Your love.<\/p><p>Yours in Christ,<\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-588 aligncenter\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"77\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png 300w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-1024x262.png 1024w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-768x196.png 768w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature.png 1401w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34bae4f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"34bae4f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Personal Witness<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aa924a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"aa924a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>During my lifetime I have had two good friends who were totally blind. Both are now deceased, and I believe with the Lord and now seeing all things clearly. My friend John was first to come into my life. He was heavily involved in my parish community as I was dis-cerning priesthood. We first met at a parish retreat. We got to know each other quite well at subsequent retreats and parish gatherings. John was a deeply spiritual man who earned a master\u2019s degree in divinity. He had an amazing interior life and a deep personal relationship with Jesus. He also had an incredible knowledge of Sacred Scripture. We had some deep spiritual discussions. I admired his deep spirituality and even envied him a bit. He talked about spiritual things at a level that I had not yet experienced and quite often could not relate to or comprehend.<br \/>My friend Don was wounded and lost his sight during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of one of the parishes that I was assigned to. When I first met him, he was telling me about a trip that he and his wife had recently taken. He was describing the beautiful scenery in some detail including the beautiful and colorful lilacs in one of the towns that they had driven through. At first it was hard for me to believe that he was totally blind. As they traveled his wife would serve as his eyes and describe the scenery to him. Because he had perfect vision for the first 21 years of his life, he could picture the details in his mind in a very vivid way.<br \/>Don spoke often of his own interior life. He was a man of incredible faith. After he lost his sight, he turned to Jesus and developed a powerful personal relationship with Him. As his wife was his sight in this world, Jesus became his spiritual sight. He had a level of spirit-uality that I admired and yearned for myself. He challenged and inspired me to grow in my faith.<br \/>Unlike Don, John was born totally blind. When I talked about the beauty of a sunset or the beauty of nature he could not relate. He had no concept of sight, or colors and no expla-nations were possible. There was no starting point of reference. Sight is something that must be experienced. Over the years as I grew spiritually, I would from time to time recol-lect some of my conversations with John and now understand what he was talking about in his spiritual life. I had to experience what he experienced spiritually before I could relate. Prior to that I had no spiritual point of reference.<br \/>The lesson that I learned from my friends was to meet people wherever they are spiritual-ly. That is exactly what Jesus did. He did not judge, He loved. Wherever they were in life He met them there. He invited them to get up, to turn away from sin, to change their lives, to follow Him. He did not leave them where He found them, but He met them where they were.<br \/>We live in the in-between times. We live between the first and second coming of Jesus. We live between promise and fulfillment, between blindness and sight, between dying and rising. We live between planting and harvest. We are like the planted seed in the darkness of the earth that stives to break out into the bright light. We walk by faith and not by sight, but we hope, and we yearn to see clearly. We are all at different stages in this process that we call life. The good news is that we are invited to journey together and help each other on the way. And Jesus meets us where we are and invites us to follow Him. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.<\/p><p>In peace and gratitude,<\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-588 aligncenter\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"77\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png 300w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-1024x262.png 1024w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-768x196.png 768w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature.png 1401w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f44b3c8 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"f44b3c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" 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Reflections<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e4f3155 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"e4f3155\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-22b3a45 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"58955\" data-id=\"22b3a45\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" 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data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;show_arrows&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pagination&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:500,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;autoplay_speed&quot;:5000,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_interaction&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;space_between&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;space_between_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;space_between_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial-carousel.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-main-swiper swiper\" role=\"region\" aria-roledescription=\"carousel\" aria-label=\"Slides\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tI first encountered Fr. Glenn\u2019s preaching on Ash Wednesday, 2006.\u00a0 It only took one homily, and my family and I realized that Fr. Glenn has a very special gift.\u00a0 Fr. Glenn is clearly very spiritual, and that comes through in all of his homilies and reflections.\u00a0 His spirituality is not aloof, or inaccessible.\u00a0 His holiness is authentic, grounded, accessible and on fire.\u00a0 And, that fire is shared, such that the listener also becomes on fire, and inspired to go deeper with Scripture, with God and with our neighbor.\u00a0 Fr. Glenn has inspired me to engage at the deepest level and to work to find my spiritual path, always encouraging, mentoring, coaching.\u00a0 I would strongly encourage anyone who can to attend one of his Masses, homilies, or podcasts.\u00a0 Catch the fire of the Holy Spirit working through Fr. Glenn!!!\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/gf-favicon-01.png\" alt=\"John J Hern Jr.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-testimonial__cite\"><span class=\"elementor-testimonial__name\">John J Hern Jr.<\/span><\/cite>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFr. Glenn has many charisms, which he displays by his compassion, theological intelligence, spirituality, and love of God.  His compassion is continually displayed when he visits the sick of the parish. His manner of prayer and conversation is definitively a gift from God.  His spirituality is very evident when he preaches. His homilies are instructive, encouraging and centered on God\u2019s infinite love for each of us. Fr. Glenn is a teacher, a mentor, and a wonderful listener who encourages those around him to follow Jesus more closely. He is Spirit filled, Spirit led and Spirit giving!\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/gf-favicon-01.png\" alt=\"Deacon Scott &amp; Claudia Jamieson\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-testimonial__cite\"><span class=\"elementor-testimonial__name\">Deacon Scott & Claudia Jamieson<\/span><\/cite>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-prev\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Previous\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-chevron-left\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M646 125C629 125 613 133 604 142L308 442C296 454 292 471 292 487 292 504 296 521 308 533L604 854C617 867 629 875 646 875 663 875 679 871 692 858 704 846 713 829 713 812 713 796 708 779 692 767L438 487 692 225C700 217 708 204 708 187 708 171 704 154 692 142 675 129 663 125 646 125Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-next\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Next\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-chevron-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M696 533C708 521 713 504 713 487 713 471 708 454 696 446L400 146C388 133 375 125 354 125 338 125 325 129 313 142 300 154 292 171 292 187 292 204 296 221 308 233L563 492 304 771C292 783 288 800 288 817 288 833 296 850 308 863 321 871 338 875 354 875 371 875 388 867 400 854L696 533Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time &#8211; Year B Reading I Ezekiel 17:22-24Thus says the Lord GOD: I, too, will take from the crest of the cedar, from its topmost branches tear off a tender shoot, and plant it on a high and lofty mountain; on the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":858,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2059","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sunday-readings"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>\u2014The Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - The Gratitude Foundation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/index.php\/2024\/06\/25\/the-eleventh-sunday-in-ordinary-time\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u2014The Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - The Gratitude Foundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time &#8211; Year B Reading I Ezekiel 17:22-24Thus says the Lord GOD: I, too, will take from the crest of the cedar, from its topmost branches tear off a tender shoot, and plant it on a high and lofty mountain; on the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it. 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