11TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, B
HOW
THE KINGDOM STARTS
A young man is close to achieving his dream. And
yet every time he speaks, he recalls the beginning of his dream, how it all
started, when it started, who inspired him to become what he would now be. As with all beginnings, the dream of
this man, started small. It started early. It began weak. It took some time before everything
took shape and became mature.
As we return to the Ordinary Time of the calendar
of the church, and to the ordinary time of our daily lives, the Lord in today’s
gospel (Mk. 4:26-34), is reminding us of the power of the little things in our
lives.
A bountiful harvest starts with tiny seeds sown
upon the earth. A might tree, like the mustard tree known in the time of Jesus,
starts with a tiny grain that is even difficult for the naked eye to see. Yes,
even the Kingdom of God starts in very unassuming ways.
Do not be afraid of starting small. Do not avoid
being little. Do not underestimate the simple, almost unnoticeable elements of
life.
God does not work big at once. God does not enter
our lives with a bang. The Lord
visits us in small things. There is power in the small people, small events,
small resources that are now at our disposal. The Kingdom of God will start from these things.
What are the little things that surround your
life today? Accept them and thank
God for them. Ask the Lord for the
grace to make these humble elements of life the material for future progress,
improvements and glory in your life.