This document serves as a biblical study guide for a liturgy focusing on the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time, providing readings from Ezekiel, Psalms, 2 Corinthians, and the Gospel of Mark. The readings emphasize themes of growth, patience, and faith, with reflections drawing connections between God's promises, the purpose of life to please God, and the mysteries of the kingdom of God as illustrated by parables. The guide encourages the practice of patience in spiritual growth and in living out God's teachings.

1. Welcome to our Bible StudyWelcome to our Bible Study
1111thth
Sunday in the Ordinary TimeSunday in the Ordinary Time
14 June 201514 June 2015
In preparation for this Sunday’s liturgyIn preparation for this Sunday’s liturgy
As aid in focusing our homilies and sharingAs aid in focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 11stst
Reading: Ezekiel 17: 22-24Reading: Ezekiel 17: 22-24
Tender shoot
22 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; 23 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.
God to be known
24 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.
A simple outline!
The focus is on knowing God.

3. 11stst
Reading: Ezekiel 17: 22-24Reading: Ezekiel 17: 22-24
Tender shoot
22 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;
23 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.
God to be known
24 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.
CommentaryCommentary
Background: The prophetBackground: The prophet
prophesied in Babylonian Exileprophesied in Babylonian Exile
(586-539 BC).(586-539 BC).
In v.22, God promises to plant aIn v.22, God promises to plant a
tender shoot of a cedar tree ontender shoot of a cedar tree on
a mountain of Israel.a mountain of Israel.
In v.23, God promises that thisIn v.23, God promises that this
tender shoot will be useful:tender shoot will be useful:
– Will bear fruitWill bear fruit
– Will become greatWill become great
– Birds will make their nest in it.Birds will make their nest in it.
V.24 gives the reason why he isV.24 gives the reason why he is
doing this:doing this:
– That the Lord who is in chargeThat the Lord who is in charge
will be known.will be known.

4. Reflections on the 1Reflections on the 1stst
readingreading
God is giving us hope.God is giving us hope.
He carefully plans for us.He carefully plans for us.
We will certainly benefit from hisWe will certainly benefit from his
plan.plan.
He is in-charge of our future.He is in-charge of our future.
We bank on his promise that what heWe bank on his promise that what he
has planted will soon come tohas planted will soon come to
fruition.fruition.

5. Resp. Ps 92:2-3. 13-14. 15-16Resp. Ps 92:2-3. 13-14. 15-16
R. (cf. 2a)R. (cf. 2a) Lord, it is good to give thanks toLord, it is good to give thanks to
you.you.
2 It is good to give thanks to the LORD,2 It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
to sing praise to your name, Most High,to sing praise to your name, Most High,
3 To proclaim your kindness at dawn3 To proclaim your kindness at dawn
and your faithfulness throughout the night.and your faithfulness throughout the night.
13 Like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow.13 Like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow.
14 They that are planted in the house of the14 They that are planted in the house of the
LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
15 They shall bear fruit even in old age;15 They shall bear fruit even in old age;
vigorous and sturdy shall they be,vigorous and sturdy shall they be,
16 Declaring how just is the LORD,16 Declaring how just is the LORD,
my rock, in whom there is no wrong.my rock, in whom there is no wrong.

6. Resp. Ps 92:2-3. 13-14. 15-16Resp. Ps 92:2-3. 13-14. 15-16
R. (cf. 2a)R. (cf. 2a) Lord, it is good toLord, it is good to
give thanks to you.give thanks to you.
2 It is good to give thanks to2 It is good to give thanks to
the LORD, to sing praise tothe LORD, to sing praise to
your name, Most High,your name, Most High,
3 To proclaim your kindness3 To proclaim your kindness
at dawn and your faithfulnessat dawn and your faithfulness
throughout the night.throughout the night.
13 Like a cedar of Lebanon13 Like a cedar of Lebanon
shall he grow.shall he grow.
14 They that are planted in14 They that are planted in
the house of the LORD shallthe house of the LORD shall
flourish in the courts of ourflourish in the courts of our
God.God.
15 They shall bear fruit even15 They shall bear fruit even
in old age; vigorous andin old age; vigorous and
sturdy shall they be,sturdy shall they be,
16 Declaring how just is the16 Declaring how just is the
LORD, my rock, in whomLORD, my rock, in whom
there is no wrong.there is no wrong.
Commentary
The psalm is a thanksgiving
psalm.
V.2 expresses thanksgiving in 3
different ways:
– To give thanks
– To sing praise
– To proclaim
In vv.13-14, God makes the
people, who fear God, grow
strong and flourish.
Vv.15-16 indicate also what
happens to them:
– Productive even in old age
– Vigorous and sturdy
– They affirm God’s justice and
righteousness.

7. Reflections on the PsalmReflections on the Psalm
Like the psalmist, we must praise
God.
It is always a right thing to do.
Those who praise God and fear him
bear much fruit, are not easily
shaken, and continue to be
productive.
Are you useful even in old age?

8. 22ndnd
Reading: 2 Corinthians 5: 6-10Reading: 2 Corinthians 5: 6-10
6 We are always courageous, although we
know that while we are at home in the
body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we
walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yet we are
courageous, and we would rather leave
the body and go home to the Lord. 9
Therefore, we aspire to please him,
whether we are at home or away. 10 For
we must all appear before the judgment
seat of Christ, so that each one may
receive recompense, according to what he
did in the body, whether good or evil.
The focus is walking by faith.

9. 22ndnd
Reading: 2 Corinthians 5: 6-10Reading: 2 Corinthians 5: 6-10
Walking by faith
6 We are always courageous, although we know
that while we are at home in the body we are
away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not
by sight. 8 Yet we are courageous, and we would
rather leave the body and go home to the Lord.
9 Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we
are at home or away.
Retribution
10 For we must all appear before the judgment
seat of Christ, so that each one may receive
recompense, according to what he did in the
body, whether good or evil.
A simple outline!

10. 22ndnd
Reading: 2 Corinthians 5: 6-10Reading: 2 Corinthians 5: 6-10
Walking by faith
6 We are always
courageous, although we
know that while we are at
home in the body we are
away from the Lord, 7 for
we walk by faith, not by
sight. 8 Yet we are
courageous, and we would
rather leave the body and
go home to the Lord. 9
Therefore, we aspire to
please him, whether we are
at home or away.
Retribution
10 For we must all appear
before the judgment seat of
Christ, so that each one
may receive recompense,
according to what he did in
the body, whether good or
evil.
Commentary
St. Paul, the author, defends
himself and his fellow missionaries
from false accusations: being
insincere.
In vv.6-7, Paul shares where their
courage is coming from: they walk
with faith.
V.8 speaks of their courage which
is translated into abandonment of
the worldly values (flesh) and
espousing heaven.
V.9 speaks of their goal: to please
God everywhere.
V.10 speaks of the last judgment,
when each one receives his/her
reward or punishment.

11. Reflections of the 2Reflections of the 2ndnd
readingreading
We draw courage from faith.We draw courage from faith.
We are not afraid to decide for God,We are not afraid to decide for God,
when we walk with (by) faith.when we walk with (by) faith.
We should rather be afraid to meetWe should rather be afraid to meet
the end, in the time of retribution.the end, in the time of retribution.
God rewards the good; he punishesGod rewards the good; he punishes
evil doers.evil doers.
Discover the meaning of what isDiscover the meaning of what is
pleasing to God.pleasing to God.

12. Gospel Reading: Mark 4:26-34Gospel Reading: Mark 4:26-34
1st
Parable: Sowing of Seeds
26 Jesus said to the crowds, "This is how it is with the
kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the
land 27 and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed
would sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28 Of its own
accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then
the full grain in the ear. 29 And when the grain is ripe, he
wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.“
2nd
Parable: Mustard Seed
30 He said, "To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or
what parable can we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed
that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the
seeds on the earth. 32 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.“
Narrator’s Commentary (author)
33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them as
they were able to understand it. 34 Without parables he did
not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained
everything in private.
A simple outline!

13. Gospel Reading: Mark 4:26-34Gospel Reading: Mark 4:26-34
1st
Parable: Sowing of Seeds
26 Jesus said to the crowds, "This
is how it is with the kingdom of
God; it is as if a man were to
scatter seed on the land 27 and
would sleep and rise night and day
and the seed would sprout and
grow, he knows not how. 28 Of
its own accord the land yields
fruit, first the blade, then the ear,
then the full grain in the ear. 29
And when the grain is ripe, he
wields the sickle at once, for the
harvest has come.“
2nd
Parable: Mustard Seed
30 He said, "To what shall we
compare the kingdom of God, or
what parable can we use for it?
31 It is like a mustard seed that,
when it is sown in the ground, is
the smallest of all the seeds on the
earth. 32 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.“
Commentary
Actually, our two parables come
after the parables of the sower
and of the lamp. They are the 3rd
and 4th
in the series of parables in
Mk 4.
The two parables tell us how the
kingdom of God looks like.
It is not a finished product, but a
long process of growth and
development.
Therefore, they must develop
patience.
The 1st
parable ends with a
harvest (judgment). V.29
The 2nd
parable describes the
humble beginning of God’s
kingdom and its great end.
The kingdom of God brings hope
(food, 1st
parable, and relief, 2nd
parable).

14. Gospel Reading: Mark 4:26-34Gospel Reading: Mark 4:26-34
Narrator’s
Commentary
(author)
33 With many such
parables he spoke
the word to them as
they were able to
understand it. 34
Without parables he
did not speak to
them, but to his own
disciples he
explained everything
in private.
V.33 tells us that JesusV.33 tells us that Jesus
(as a rabbi) taught to his(as a rabbi) taught to his
disciples by usingdisciples by using
parables, which can beparables, which can be
understood by them.understood by them.
Those parables wereThose parables were
based on their ownbased on their own
observation or experience.observation or experience.
They were not importedThey were not imported
stories or foreignstories or foreign
concepts.concepts.
V.34 tells us that JesusV.34 tells us that Jesus
explained the kingdom ofexplained the kingdom of
God to his disciples withGod to his disciples with
the use of parables.the use of parables.

15. Reflections on the Gospel ReadingReflections on the Gospel Reading
To explain God’s kingdom (mysteries), we needTo explain God’s kingdom (mysteries), we need
to employ stories understandable to our listeners.to employ stories understandable to our listeners.
We should use local images, or somethingWe should use local images, or something
imaginable by our audience, to develop the virtueimaginable by our audience, to develop the virtue
of patience.of patience.
How can we be patient to people whom we wouldHow can we be patient to people whom we would
like to change?like to change?
Without patience, we cannot teach God’sWithout patience, we cannot teach God’s
kingdom.kingdom.
Patience pays back.Patience pays back.

16. Tying the 3 readings and the PsalmTying the 3 readings and the Psalm
TheThe first readingfirst reading talks about the tendertalks about the tender
shoot becoming big and great and useful.shoot becoming big and great and useful.
TheThe psalmpsalm talks about praising God for histalks about praising God for his
great works, for it is the right thing to do.great works, for it is the right thing to do.
TheThe second readingsecond reading talks about thetalks about the
purpose of our lives: to please God.purpose of our lives: to please God.
TheThe gospelgospel talks about God’s kingdom, itstalks about God’s kingdom, its
humble beginning and great end.humble beginning and great end.
We must develop patience.

17. How to develop your homily and sharingHow to develop your homily and sharing
Do you have patience?Do you have patience?
Is there a short cut to success?Is there a short cut to success?
Do you know how to wait, even if itDo you know how to wait, even if it
takes so long?takes so long?

18. The parables of the gospel teach usThe parables of the gospel teach us
about the kingdom of God.about the kingdom of God.
In the process of its growth, theyIn the process of its growth, they
teach us patience, like the farmersteach us patience, like the farmers
and missionaries.and missionaries.
If we are involved in God’s workIf we are involved in God’s work
(kingdom of God), we must have(kingdom of God), we must have
patience.patience.

19. We don’t violate nature when we haveWe don’t violate nature when we have
patience.patience.
Alas, patience is not in the world’s agenda,Alas, patience is not in the world’s agenda,
especially nowadays when we want instantespecially nowadays when we want instant
food, quick decisions, and delivery offood, quick decisions, and delivery of
services.services.
It wants to hasten the growth of plantsIt wants to hasten the growth of plants
through fertilizers.through fertilizers.
It wants to harvest chicken within aIt wants to harvest chicken within a
shorter period of time, by feeding what isshorter period of time, by feeding what is
unnatural to them.unnatural to them.
Hi technology has conditioned our heartsHi technology has conditioned our hearts
and minds for quick results.and minds for quick results.
It is all for the sake of more money.It is all for the sake of more money.

20. When we deal with God’s kingdom, itWhen we deal with God’s kingdom, it
is all different.is all different.
The missionary or, church worker,The missionary or, church worker,
should not lose heart when his or hershould not lose heart when his or her
efforts are not rewarded right away,efforts are not rewarded right away,
when he/she does not feel thewhen he/she does not feel the
change or effect of his/her sacrifices.change or effect of his/her sacrifices.

21. We cannot dictate when people shouldWe cannot dictate when people should
change.change.
The parables tell us that we should not beThe parables tell us that we should not be
discouraged if nothing seems to happendiscouraged if nothing seems to happen
inspite of all the ongoing formations,inspite of all the ongoing formations,
meetings, workshops, seminars, practices,meetings, workshops, seminars, practices,
etc.etc.
We should continue sowing the seeds.We should continue sowing the seeds.
The little things that we do will bear fruit.The little things that we do will bear fruit.
We may not see that happening in ourWe may not see that happening in our
lifetime.lifetime.

22. But the gospel is clear about the end.But the gospel is clear about the end.
The slow will move fast, produce many.The slow will move fast, produce many.
(sowing of the seed, gospel)(sowing of the seed, gospel)
The small will become big.The small will become big. (mustard seed,(mustard seed,
gospel)gospel)
The seemingly insignificant (frail) willThe seemingly insignificant (frail) will
become significant (strong).become significant (strong). (tender shoot(tender shoot
becoming a majestic cedar, 1becoming a majestic cedar, 1stst
reading)reading)
There is judgment for those who can’t waitThere is judgment for those who can’t wait
yet can’t produce.yet can’t produce. (2(2ndnd
reading)reading)

23. In our churches, how many of us haveIn our churches, how many of us have
patience for God’s interests?patience for God’s interests?
– Those who don’t easily give up.Those who don’t easily give up.
– Those who continue working, teaching,Those who continue working, teaching,
sacrificing, convincing, cajoling, etc.sacrificing, convincing, cajoling, etc.
We easily give up on the slow learners.We easily give up on the slow learners.
We become impatient with those whoWe become impatient with those who
have impaired hearing or sight.have impaired hearing or sight.
We talk against those who come late.We talk against those who come late.

24. Of course, we should not tolerateOf course, we should not tolerate
undue or unnecessary delays due toundue or unnecessary delays due to
playfulness, negligence, low self-playfulness, negligence, low self-
confidence (it is expensive),confidence (it is expensive), like alike a
student who wants to take 4 courses only in astudent who wants to take 4 courses only in a
semester when he can take 6 or 7.semester when he can take 6 or 7.
We do not condone sluggishness,We do not condone sluggishness,
which leads us to nowhere.which leads us to nowhere.
We, missionaries and lay faithful,We, missionaries and lay faithful,
must show we have hope.must show we have hope.

25. TheThe eucharisteucharist is a sign of God’sis a sign of God’s
patience and love for us.patience and love for us.
TheThe eucharisteucharist gives us courage togives us courage to
wait and to be patient.wait and to be patient.
In theIn the eucharisteucharist, we await with, we await with
patience the coming of the Lord, whopatience the coming of the Lord, who
will reward us according to ourwill reward us according to our
deeds.deeds.

26. Our Context of Sin and GraceOur Context of Sin and Grace
ImpatienceImpatience
Instant successInstant success
Instant moneyInstant money
Belittling littleBelittling little
thingsthings
BullyingBullying
PatiencePatience
EnduranceEndurance
HopefulHopeful
Can waitCan wait
ProductiveProductive
Respects humanRespects human
naturenature
Understands howUnderstands how
God’s grace worksGod’s grace works
Thank you for your patience in waiting.

27. Suggested SongsSuggested Songs
If you want your dream to beIf you want your dream to be
Little ThingsLittle Things