Gospel of Mark Series: An allegory of the parable of the sower.

Welcome to my Gospel of Mark Series. During 2012-13, each week, I will write a post about the Gospel of Mark as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark.  I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season of Year B.  In today's post, we explore chapter 4:13-20 which is the allegory of the sower.

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?

Gospel of Mark Series: The parable of the sower

 Welcome to my Gospel of Mark Series. During 2012-13, each week, I will write a post about the Gospel of Mark as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark.  I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season of Year B.  In today's post, we explore chapter 4:1-12 which is the parable of the sower.

So many people crowd around Jesus at the lakeside the He gets into a boat, which earlier He asked His disciples to have ready (3:9).  From the boat He teaches the people standing along the shore in parables.

Parables were used by Jesus, as they were by the rabbis and other teachers of His time, as ways of coming to know a mystery through a comparison with some familiar situation already known.

The comparison could be made through a story or simply by a brief metaphor or allusion.  When the comparison was made in a short, catch  way, it was a proverb.  A parable became a riddle or puzzle, when people failed to experience the insight or the mystery it introduced.  The parable comparisons of Jesus become parable puzzles to those without faith in the mysterious action of God in the world.

The parable of the sower compares the coming of God into the world with the situation of a sower scattering seed for a  harvest.  It seems that the farmers of Israel at the time of Jesus sowed the seed before, not after, they ploughed the land.  Though God’s power may appear to be wasted or destroyed, it eventually produces wonderful results.  The parable begins and ends with a call to listen.

Strangely Mark seems to say that Jesus told parables as a deliberately puzzling way of teaching to hide from the outsiders the true meaning of the kingdom..  This is part of Mark's emphasis on a reluctance of Jesus to accept in public the title of Messiah, and an unwillingness in Him to reveal to all His true identity.  In fact, Jesus told parables to lead people by faith to a person discovery in their own lives of the kingdom of God revealed in His own person, and to stir a radical commitment in all to its coming into the world.

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.
• Consider how I fail to sow the seed of the kingdom of God?
• How do I related 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.
• What impact does Jesus’ teaching have on you (4:1-12).
• How has this passage spoken to you- what does it say to you personally?

Reflection and Prayer: Trust in the Lord.

My reflection and prayer series is about sharing reflections and Prayers which have impacted upon me and have provided food for thought. I hope that they will also nurture your soul and spirit.

My post is called:

TRUST IN THE LORD.

Fretting and fussing only lead to frustration. 

Trust in the Lord  and be at peace.

When doubt would defeat you, 

Trust and be still

 In the promise you're given 

   While God works His will.

Compendium Series: How is the Good News spread?

80. How is the Good News spread? (CCC 425-429)

Compendium states:

From the very beginning, the first disciples burned with a desire to proclaim Jesus Christ in order to lead all to faith in Him.  Even today from the loving knowledge of Christ there springs up in the believer the desire to evangelize and catechize, that is, to reveal in the Person of Christ the entire design of God and to put humanity in communion with Him.

What does this mean for me?

1. Through God's grace, I may increase the desire to evangelize and catechize.
2. I may examine my present level of commitment to evangelize  and catechize and recommit to possessing a burning desire like the first disciples.
3. I may examine and reflect upon how I reveal the Person of Christ to other people in my life.

Questions to consider.

1. Why did the first disciples have a burning desire to proclaim Jesus Christ?
2. What level of desire have I had in the past and currently?
3. How might I change my level of commitment to evangelize?
4. Why is a loving knowledge of Christ so important in evangelizing other people?
5. How can I put humanity in communion with Jesus Christ?

May this question of How is the Good News spread challenge us to reflect and then be moved into action.

Gospel of Mark Series: Section 3 Part 3 Opposition to Jesus grows.

Welcome to my Gospel of Mark Series. During 2012-13, each week, I will write a post about the Gospel of Mark as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark.  I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season of Year B.  In today's post, we explore chapter 3:20-35 which is opposition to Jesus grows.  

Jesus returns home, to the lakeside town of Capernaum.  The opposition to Him continues to grow from two sources, the fears of His family for His sanity, and the malice of the scribes from Jerusalem.

Mark uses one of his favourite literary devices by sandwiching one story within another, the opposition of the scribes within the opposition of the family of Jesus.

The scribes from Jerusalem say Jesus the power of Beelzebul, a name for Satan as the price of demons.  Jesus speaks to them in parables, or comparisons, of which Mark gives only brief summaries.  Can Satan fight Satan? A kingdom divided cannot last.  A divided house falls.  A strong man’s home can be burgled only if somone first binds the strong man.  Jesus, we, saw comes as the one to bind Satan and free people from his evil power.

Jesus sees the scribes opposing him as resisting the Holy Spirit.  To resist the Holy Spirit of God is to resist the only power by which a person can begin to experience life as it really is.  The so-called sin against the Holy Spirit is unforgiveable, not because God is unwilling to forgive, but because people refuse to recognise the presence of God’s power breaking into the world, and to welcome its liberating action into their own lives.

When the family of Jesus arrives, they stand as outsiders, with the opposition not with the disciples.  This is the first time we see the mother and brothers of Jesus in Mark’s gospel, but Mark gives us no further information about them.  ‘’Who are my real family?”’  Jesus asks.  Mark want to emphasises that the real family of Jesus are the one who are with Him as disciples, the ones sitting around listening to Him, those to whom He can reveal the secret of the kingdom of God.

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 how it must have felt to be one of the family of Jesus watching him behave and act in this strange way.
• Consider how I fail to recognise the  presence of God’s power breaking into my world and how I reject its liberating action into my life.  Have I ever refused it?
• How ready in my heart do I feel that I would still  be free if God’s will truly become my will.  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.
• What impact does Jesus’ teaching have on you (3:20-35).
• How has this passage spoken to you- what does it say to you personally?

Gospel of Mark Series: Chapter 3 Part 2 Jesus appoints the Twelve.

Welcome to my Gospel of Mark Series. During 2012-13, each week, I will write a post about the Gospel of Mark as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark.  I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season of Year B.  In today's post, we explore chapter 3:13-19 which is Jesus appoints the twelve.

After the summary opening of the second part, Jesus called four disciples.  Again, after a summary opening to this part part, He appoints from His disciples the twelve.

A mountain, from the time of Moses on Mount Sinai, is a place to meet God.  There Jesus calls His disciples to Him, to come and share His experience of God.  To come away to Him they leave something behind.  Jesus makes twelve, a symbol of the twelve tribes of Israel, to be a new chosen people to work with Him for the Kingdom of God coming into the world.  He gives new names to the first three disciples to signify a new identity.

The mission of the twelve is to preach, implicitly the gospel, although Mark does not directly say this.  In Mark's Gospel, during his historical life only explicitly proclaims the gospel of the kingdom of God.  The disciples and John the baptiser preach a radical conversion of heart or ‘metanoia’.

The preaching is confirmed by a second task of their mission, to drive out demons, or to free people from all that dehumanises them.  This can include any kind of unwanted poverty, material poverty through lack of food, clothing or shelter, social poverty when people suffer discrimination  or lack a voice in society; physical poverty: poverty from bodily illness, deformities, or old age, mental poverty through lack of education, crippling anxieties or mental illnesses and spiritual poverty through a lack of God’s Spirit enabling people to receive and give love.

The twelve chosen by Jesus are individually named.  This naming reminds us of the deep biblical sense of naming.  To be named by Jesus is to be personally involved with Him then as the human Jesus, now in our time as the risen Lord.

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 how it must have felt to be one of the disciples who were called and named by Jesus.
• Try to feel Jesus calling you and naming you to continue His mission.  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.
• What impact does Jesus’ teaching have on you (3:13-19). 
  
• 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?

Gospel of Mark Series: Section 3 Part 1- the crowds around Jesus

Welcome to my Gospel of Mark Series. During 2012-13, each week, I will write a post about the Gospel of Mark as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark.  I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season of Year B.  In today's post, we explore chapter 3:7-12 which is the crowds around Jesus.

As in the second part, a summary passage begins a third part of Mark’s Gospel.  This third part describes the work and mission of Jesus at its height.  Jesus withdraws again (1:45), this time to the shore of Lake Galilee.  Hearing from others about all He was doing, the crowds flock to Him there from all over Galilee, and from Jerusalem and other distant regions.   

Hearing the word, or the gospel, brought by Jesus a key theme recurring through this third part of Mark’s Gospel.  Until now the crowds have heard His word from others, not from Jesus Himself.

In this opening summary passage, the people crowds around Jesus with wild enthusiasm, pressing tightly against Him.  Those troubled with diseases try to touch Him, for He has freed people from many different kinds of evil.  They sense a new power in Him.  So many have come that there is danger He will be crushed by the crowds.  He asks His disciples to have a boat ready on the lake.  He may need to move from the shore.

Mad people fall on the ground in front of him, shrieking that He is the Son of God.  Mark states again his strange view that the demons know the truth which Christians believe about Jesus, and which the reader already knows from the Gospel prologue,, but which the crowds and the disciples have not yet discovered.

Mark emphasizes again that Jesus silences the demons and will not let  them make known His true identity.  The people and His disciples have not yet experienced Jesus deeply enough, it seems, to believe what the title “Son of God”’ really means.

Jesus is truly known as the Son of God only by believers.  Through their faith they can recognise in his person and liberating service of others God’s own life and action coming into the world.

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 how it must have felt to be one of the crowd pressing on Jesus to touch him. Is there a desire to see Jesus so much that I want to crush Him?
• Try to feel something of what Jesus felt when He saw the attitudes of the crowds and those who were sick and were possessed by demons.  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.
• What impact does Jesus’ teaching have on you (3:7-12).
• 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?