First Reading: Ezekiel 17:22-24

Prior to this passage, Ezekiel has used an analogy which shows the destruction of Judah at the hands of Babylon.
Here, Ezekiel presents a more positive scene. He describes how God takes a shoot from the same tree. This shoot represents the Davidic line and is the branch which will blossom into the long hoped-for Messiah.


Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10

In this section of the Letter, Paul defends his actions and apostleship, affirming his affection for the Corinthians. Two key themes in the Letter are Paul’s position as an apostle of Christ and his reference to the community as the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ is contrasted to the human body, which in fact lead one away from Christ. This passage warns
the Corinthians to beware being exiled from Christ.


Gospel Reading: Mark 4:26-34

In today’s Gospel we are presented with two parables of Jesus, which describe the kingdom of God. While we often think of a parable as a story with a meaning, it is better to see the parable as a way of coming close to a mystery. Rabbi Jose compares the parable to a handle with which an
otherwise unwieldy basket can be carried. By using parables to describe what kingdom of God is like, Jesus is introducing a foreign concept using concepts with which his listeners are familiar, the seed which grows unseen in the soil and the mustard seed, so small yet growing into the biggest of bushes. What parable would you use to describe the kingdom?