The Plant (11th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

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The Book of Ezekiel chronicles the very end of the First Temple period, just before the Judean monarchy was brought to an end by Babylon. Many of Ezekiel’s prophecies are criticisms of Judah’s leadership and religious establishment, who were neglecting the law through idolatry and injustice, as well as trusting in political alliances rather than God to safeguard their nation. Chapter 17 in particular presents a criticism of king Zedekiah’s decision to rely on their alliance with Egypt to break free from vassalage with Babylon, presenting this not only as rebellion against Babylon, but against God Himself, who allowed them to fall into Babylon’s grip:

“But he rebelled against him by sending ambassadors to Egypt, in order that they might give him horses and a large army. Will he succeed? Can one escape who does such things? Can he break the covenant and yet escape? As I live, says the Lord God, surely in the place where the king resides who made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant with him he broke—in Babylon he shall die. Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company will not help him in war, when ramps are cast up and siege walls built to cut off many lives. Because he despised the oath and broke the covenant, because he gave his hand and yet did all these things, he shall not escape.” (Ezekiel 18:15-18)

And yet, despite this judgment, God is prepared to make good come out of bad. In verses 22-24, we get this cryptic allegory of a sprig being taken from a cedar and planted on a mountain. Cedar trees are often used as a symbol for Israel (e.g. Numbers 24:6). This image calls to mind Isaiah 11, which speaks of the shoot springing forth from the stump of Jesse (referring to the Davidic dynasty). The sprig then grows into a great cedar tree, which becomes a shelter for all manner of beasts and birds. This is similar in imagery to Daniel 2:34-35, which speaks of a stone that becomes a mountain and fills the whole earth. The stone in this vision represent God’s Kingdom, which Christ will cause to grow among every nation and tribe.

One also cannot fail to see the parallel between this and the parable of the mustard seed found in today’s Gospel reading (Mark 4:26-34). A very similar image is given, with the main difference being the type of plant used. From this, we can infer that the passage in Ezekiel is a Messianic prophecy, which foretells how God will take one from the house of David who will bless the whole world, and usher in the Kingdom of God. We see the fulfillment of this prophecy when Jesus inaugurated the Kingdom, which has been growing and spreading throughout the world since Pentecost, and will be finally consummated at the Second Coming.

J. Luis Dizon