What do you find meaningful – helpful—insightful when it comes to trees?
Have you ever had a favorite tree?
1st Reading – Ezekiel 17:22-24
This is an allegory, which is defined as the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence. Ezekiel seems to be using the image of the cedar shoot to prophecy about Israel’s future. This predates the fall of Jerusalem. Ezekiel believed in a restoration of the Davidic dynasty. The prophet hoped that the dynasty would rule over a new and renewed Israel in the times to come. Still he had no mystical ideas of this kingship. When he speaks of the Davidic restoration he refers only to a “spring from the top of the cedar. If properly tended this sprig could become a luxuriant vine bearing all kinds of fruits and providing shade for every animal. But all this lies in the potential future. Above all, Ezekiel speaks for the Lord, who is constantly at work for our good (Vawter & Hoppe’s Ezekiel, p. 91, 98).
The cedar forests of Lebanon enjoy the unique distinction as the oldest documented forests in history. The cedars made a special contribution to the development of the Phoenician civilization by providing the timbers with which they developed their famous sea-going merchant boats -thus becoming one of the first, major sea-going trading nation in the world. The Phoenicians transported the cedar to Egypt, until Egypt conquered Lebanon and gained direct access to the forests, which were highly prized for building temples and boats. Later the Babylonians took a similar interest in the cedars and obtained them for use in building the fabled city of Babylon. The expansion of the Roman Empire into Syria and Lebanon had a detrimental effect on the cedars until the Emperor Hadrian installed markers around the boundary of the remaining forests and declared them as Imperial Domain. In modern day Lebanon, the legendary cedar is still revered and remains prominent in the minds of all Lebanese. The cedar is featured on the national flag, the national airline, Government logos, the Lebanese currency and innumerable commercial logos. (http://www.shoufcedar.org/)
2nd Reading – 2 Corinthians 5:6-10
For all his yearning for the life to come, Paul does not despise this life. He is, he says, in good heart. The reason is that even here and now we possess the Holy Spirit of God, the first installment of the life to come. It is given to the Christian to be citizen of two worlds; and the result is, not that he despises this world, but that he finds it clad with a sheen of glory which is the reflection of the greater glory to come (Barclay, Daily Study Bible Series, p. 205-6). Isn’t this hopeful? We must look for the good. Life is in the decisions we make. Right now. We must live in the present, but with a foot in the future, knowing we are accountable for our actions. What we do makes up who we are, and affects others around us. Does this stir something up in you?
The Gospel – Mark 4: 26-34
From J. Pilch’s The Cultural World of Jesus, Cycle B (p. 97-98).
The seed: Ancient Middle Eastern conviction, common to all peasant societies, was that all goods are finite in quantity and already distributed. In other words, there is no more where this came from. Any Middle Easterner who suddenly realized an increase in goods was considered a thief, because one peasant’s gain usually meant another peasant’s loss. Yet peasants recognized yields, like livestock, a good crop, and children as exceptions. These increases were viewed as imponderable but very welcome gifts from God, gifts that should be shared. In this parable, the man is ignorant and perhaps even slothful to do nothing to help the crop along (no tilling, weeding or irrigation). Yet the earth brings forth the harvest. If humans choose to trust God instead of relying upon themselves, unimaginable success can result.
The mustard seed: This parable presents a slight variation on the previous one. Mark makes the parable botanically correct: the mustard seed becomes a shrub, sometimes rather large, but it never grows into a tree (see Luke 13:19). The listener is challenged to imagine how great the kingdom will be: will it be small and selective, only admitting a few? Or will it look small (like a shrub) but actually be large enough to shelter varieties of birds? The choice is up to the listener. The importance of secrecy was also a part of the ancient Mediterranean world. Honor required that outsiders should learn nothing damaging about insiders. Yet it was also socially unacceptable because others may suspect that those who keep secrets are plotting to damage their honor. A troubling dilemma. Jesus’ parables spoken to the public (the outsiders) carry one meaning, but explained to his disciples (the insiders) carry another. Should believers settle for the outsider interpretation or strive to gain the insider understanding?
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