Wednesday of Week 3 of Ordinary Time – Gospel
Commentary on Mark 4:1-20
Today we see Jesus teaching by the seashore. The crowds were so great that Jesus had to use one of his disciples’ boats and preach from there. Generally speaking, Jesus teaches the crowds near the sea, but when teaching his disciples, he tends to go to a mountain or secluded place.
For the first time in Mark, we come across a number of parables spoken by Jesus. Before we go on to discuss the parable in today’s passage, let us make a few remarks about parables in general. In the New Testament the word ‘parable’ represents a wide range of literary forms. In general, however, it can be said that a parable is a way of illustrating a point of Jesus’ teaching through an illustration from daily life. Sometimes there may be an exaggerated element only to make the point of the parable more striking.
Strictly speaking, the difference between a parable and an allegory is that the former just makes one point using a comparison, while in the latter each of the items in the story has a symbolism of its own. Generally speaking, Jesus’ parables were of the first kind, but allegory cannot always be excluded. We will see that today’s parable of the sower is a parable in the strict sense, but when Jesus explains the parable to his disciples it is made to look more like an allegory. That said, this is not a point to argue about.
The parable of the sower, as presented here, is in three parts. The first part seems to be close to what Jesus actually said and, like most parables, just makes one point. That point is that God’s sowing represents his plan to build the Kingdom and to make his reign effective in the world. Although it may seem to meet with partial or total failure in some areas, overall it will certainly succeed. God’s plans will not be frustrated.
It is a parable to induce confidence, especially for a tiny Church in times of difficulty and persecution (which Mark’s Church would have been experiencing). The parable concludes with the call:
If you have ears to hear, then hear!
Listening is a very important element in our relationship with God and Jesus. In the gospel, listening involves:
- actually hearing the message,
- understanding the message,
- assimilating the message into one’s own thinking, and…
Once we have reached the third stage, the fourth and final stage will inevitably follow:
- acting on the message.
Once a way of seeing life becomes part of us, then we will want to behave accordingly. We will not have to force ourselves to act. This is the freedom that comes with being one with Christ and his Way.
The next part of the passage may seem strange. It seems to say that Jesus spoke in parables so that those outside his own circle would not be able to understand. That does not really make sense. Was his message not for all? In fact, Jesus is quoting a rather cynical passage from the Hebrew (Old) Testament about people who keep looking, but never see and keep listening, but never hear (see Is 6:9-10). Why? Because if they did see and understand, they might be converted and change, but they do not want to be converted or to change. They have already made up their minds. We certainly meet people like that today.
In fact, the parables, using graphic images from familiar scenes in daily life, were spoken precisely to help people understand the message of Jesus. But as we have seen, there were those who simply did not want to see even the obvious.
Finally, there is another interpretation of the parable in response to a request by the disciples for an explanation. The explanation somewhat changes the emphasis on the parable itself and it becomes more an allegory than a parable. In the original parable the emphasis is really on the Sower, i.e. God, and the ultimate success of his work.
In this alternate interpretation, the emphasis is on the soil in which the seed is trying to grow. It describes different responses to the Word of God (the seed). We have to realise first that, in Palestine at this time, the sowing took place before the ploughing. Then we need to visualise a rock-strewn field lying fallow since the last harvest. There are public paths going across it. Weeds and brambles have grown up in parts. This is where the farmer will scatter his seed.
Some seed falls on the barren paths. It gets no welcome and never even begins to grow. Birds come and eat it up. This refers to those who come in contact with the message of Jesus, but it never even gets a start in their lives.
Some falls on the rocks, where in the crevices there may be some moisture. Though the seed begins to grow, it soon runs out of moisture and nourishment, and it withers and dies. This soil is compared to those who embrace Christianity with enthusiasm, but once they meet with some opposition or persecution (which would have been common in the early Church), they fall away.
Some seed falls among the weeds and brambles. It takes root, but the weeds are growing too, and they eventually choke out the wheat. This is a picture of the Christian who gets caught up in the prevailing (materialistic) values of the surrounding society and ends up producing nothing.
Finally, there is seed which falls on fertile soil and yields a good harvest in varying amounts. These are the Christians who really ‘hear’ the word (see above) and produce much fruit.
Notice that to be a Christian, it is not enough just to be fervent and observant, but one also must be productive:
…every good tree bears good fruit…Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
(Matt 7:17,19)
Perhaps we may reflect today which of the above categories best describes us.
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Wednesday of Week 3 of Ordinary Time – First Reading
Commentary on Hebrews 10:11-18
We take up from yesterday’s reading where the author continues to show the superiority of Jesus’ single sacrifice over the many sacrifices of the old dispensation. In the old order, the priest stood day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices which were really ineffectual in taking away sin.
Christ, on the other hand, offered for all time just one sacrifice, not of the fruits of the earth, but of himself as a perfect offering in total union with his Father. Quoting Psalm 110, Paul tells us that because of this, he now sits “at the right hand of God”—his work is complete—and he waits:
…until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.
The ‘sitting’ of Jesus is contrasted with the Levitical priest who always stood, implying his sacrificing role was never finished.
The waiting period is that between the enthronement of Jesus at his resurrection-ascension and his Second Coming. The identity of the “enemies” is not specified. Writing to the Corinthians (and quoting from Psalm 8:6), Paul had said:
…he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” (1 Cor 15:25-27)
In his one offering, Christ has made perfect all those “who are sanctified”. This is confirmed by the words of Scripture in a passage which the author adapts from Jeremiah (31:33), where Yahweh says that he will make a covenant with his people:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds…
And using another passage from Jeremiah (31:34), he adds:
I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.
In a concluding remark, Paul says:
Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Again, it is for us to open ourselves totally to the forgiving and healing power of Jesus Christ and to unite ourselves fully with his self-offering. Along with Paul, let us pray to God:
See, I have come to do your will. (Heb 10:9)
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