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| "Scene from the Life of St Thomas Aquinas” (detail) by Filippino Lippi, 1489-91 |
Commentary:
Commentary on 2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29
Nathan’s oracle has been communicated to David, that the Lord has established the Davidic dynasty. In this passage from 2 Samuel, David now goes to the tent where the Ark of the Covenant is kept (“King David went in and sat before the Lord”), and prays that all God has promised will be fulfilled. The prayer is in the form of a response to a covenant proposed, if you do this, I will do that.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 132:1-2, 3-5, 11, 12, 13-14
R. (Lk 1:32b) The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.
Commentary on Ps 132:1-2, 3-5, 11, 12, 13-14
Psalm 132 is a song of thanksgiving song by the community as they remember the establishment of God’s salvation expressed in the Davidic dynasty. The promise of God is fulfilled in Jesus, the Messiah, who comes from the house of David to rule forever.
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Gospel: Mark 4:21-25
Commentary on Mk 4:21-25
Jesus continues his private talk with his disciples, explaining the parables he had used when speaking to the crowds from the boat. The description of the lamp placed high so that all can benefit from the light continues the description of the seed that fell on fertile ground in the parable of the “Sower.” It therefore takes the character of a description of the duties of those who hear the word and have it take root in them.
The second part of the reading speaks of “The measure.” Again, this refers to his disciples who are given the gift of the word. In them the word will grow. The Lord understands that one of their number will fall “…from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."
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Reflection:
We picture the scene once more. Jesus is sitting on the shore with his disciples after having spent much of the day teaching from a boat so the people could hear. His disciples are gathered around him, listening intently as the Lord explains the parts of his parables that were difficult for them to understand. He had used the parable of the “Sower,” and had just finished his explanation that the seed that fell on fertile ground represented those who heard his word and had it take root in them. We pray we are among that number, don’t we?
He continues his explanation now, telling his disciples that what they are receiving (and are to proclaim) is not private or secret knowledge. He has not given it to them so they alone can find peace and happiness in their own salvation. No, he asks them the rhetorical question: "Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?” Their duty is to take their understanding into the world and to give it away. There is a resonance in this action. The more they give away their knowledge of the Kingdom of God, the love the father has for us, the greater that knowledge and understanding grows in them. He tells them to listen closely. “Take care what you hear.” Each word from the Lord’s lips is precious, it carries life and hope.
Give it away, he tells them, like light from the lamp, let it illuminate all dark places. And the wonder of it, the light will be reflected back and grow and become brighter until it lights up the whole world. And even as he tells them how they will be filled up, perhaps his eyes rest ever so briefly on Judas Iscariot, the Zealot, and he is reminded that not all who hear will understand, and even the little wisdom that is imparted will be taken away.
For us, we who have heard the word of love poured out from the Father through his Son, the injunction of Jesus comes to us clearly. We, like his disciples, have been given the gift of faith. Our faith is not a private thing. It is not a secret to be kept or a gift to be hidden. It is for the world, this Word of God we are given. Today we are reminded once more that we must live that word and speak that word so that all who hear us are bathed in the light of it. This is our great mission, and we are also reminded that as we give away what we have, it will come back to us magnified and fill us up as well.
Pax
[2] The picture is "Scene from the Life of St Thomas Aquinas” (detail) by Filippino Lippi, 1489-91
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