This
explanation of the parable of the sower sowing seed is an example of
what people generally call an allegory. A parable is a story which
simply compares a known situation with a less known or unknown
situation. An allegory does more since it is a further development of a
parable where each detail is given a meaning.
Preachers
and storytellers today often allegorise traditional stories to deepen
and enrich our understanding of them and to help us apply in a practical
manner the truth they contain. It is probably that Mark found in the
community where he lived this allegorical development of the parable of
Jesus about the sower.
Jesus
may, of course, have also made a allegory of the sower. More like,
Mark has put upon the lips of Jesus a traditional explanation of the
parable Jesus actually told, which was already current in the early
Christian communities and which was judged to be faithful to the meaning
of the original story of Jesus (4:1-9).
In
the allegory the focus is changed from the coming of the kingdom of God
to the different ways in which people hear or respond to the kingdom.
Notice how often the word hearing occurs.
Hearing
the meaning of a parable is for those who listen with true faith. The
hardened soil of a well trodden path is the stubbornness of heart
which Satan puts in some people and which prevents any hearing at all of
God’s Word. The rocky ground is shallowness of character in some
hearers. The thorns are the cares of the world which drastically
diminish a person’s capacity to listen in freedom to the deeper
realities of life.
The
thirty, sixty and hundredfold harvest are people who really hear the
Gospel and respond by bearing fruit in their lives in differing degrees,
but always with extraordinary results, quite beyond human expectation.
In our journal and/or our discussion group we may wish to reflect on this passage as follows:
- Name the key points that you have learnt about the person of Jesus in this passage of scripture?
- Reflect on the keywords in this passage for they contain the substance and purpose of all the things Jesus said and did-
- Consider my relationship with Jesus in the light of this Gospel passage.
- Reflect on some of the ways in which this power of God which Jesus call the kingdom of God, may be entering into my life at this present time.
- Ponder the four different dispositions towards the gospel of God which are symbolised by the four kinds of soil where the seed fell.?
- How do I relate to the parable of the sower. Make a list of areas in my life that need a change of heart and develop an action plan on how this change of heart might occur. (eg name an area and name one/two changes that you will implement with God's help.
- In which of the four classes of hearer would I place myself at this present time of my life? How is this class different from one month ago/3 months or six months ago?
- What impact does Jesus’ teaching have on you (4:13-20).
- How has this passage spoken to you- what does it say to you personally?
It is important to remember that St Mark wishes us to know the person of Jesus.
What does this passage of scripture tell you about the person of Jesus?
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