 |
“St. Francis de Sales”
Artist and Date UNKNOWN
|
Commentary:
Reading 1: 2 Samuel 7:4-17
Commentary on 2 Sm 7:4-17
Following King David’s final battles, when the now-united kingdom was at peace, David consulted Nathan “the prophet.” It is clear that the King wishes to build a permanent structure to house the ark of the Covenant. Nathan’s first answer is: “Whatever is in your heart, go and do, for the LORD is with you.” (2 Samuel 7:3) But this selection tells the story of his vision that evening.
In addition to providing reassurance to David, the vision is recalled again, in poetic form in the strophes of Psalm 89:4-5, 27-28, 29-30 (below). It is the basis for the Jewish expectation of the Messiah, a son of David. The prophecy was fulfilled in a transcendent way by Jesus.
---------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 89:4-5, 27-28, 29-30
R. (29a) For ever I will maintain my love for my servant.
Commentary on Ps 89:4-5, 27-28, 29-30
Psalm 89 is a communal lament sung after the defeat of the Davidic king. It calls into question God’s promise made in the strophes cited in 2 Samuel 7:4ff wherein God promised that David’s throne was to stand forever. The community asks God to remember his promise.
CCC: Ps 89 709
---------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Mark 4:1-20
Commentary on Mark 4:1-20
St. Mark’s Gospel begins a section of teachings on the Kingdom of God through parables. We note that Jesus is teaching from a boat, which would provide a natural amphitheater with the ground sloping to the shore. Here the Lord presents the parable of the “Sower.” As in St. Matthew’s Gospel (Matthew 13:1-18) he follows the unvarnished parable with a deeper explanation to the Disciples.
In the Parable of the Sower from Mark’s Gospel, Jesus uses the rich analogy of the seed (of faith given in Baptism) to show the various courses of faith in human endeavor. Because this selection gives not only the parable, but the Lord’s explanation of its meaning, the only historical note we will make is that, at that point in history in that region, when planting a field, the seed was sown first and then the field was plowed.
---------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
“…to those outside everything comes in parables”
When Jesus says these words to the Disciples, he does so just before he has one of those wonderful teaching sessions with them. We envision them sitting around an open fire later that evening when the crowds have faded away and they finally have time to be alone. St. Mark’s portrait of the Disciples makes them very human for us. They don’t instantly grasp everything the Lord tells them, and in this way we, who are also very human, get the benefit of the Lord’s more intimate contact with them.
What catches our eye today is the statement with which this reflection began: “…to those outside everything comes in parables.” Who are those “outside” and what is meant by the statement “everything comes in parables?”
There is the quote in the Gospel immediately following this phrase that gives us an idea of whom the Lord is speaking when he says “those outside:” “…they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.” The Lord is quoting part of the Old Testament. Here are the words of Isaiah: “And he replied: Go and say to this people: Listen carefully, but you shall not understand! Look intently, but you shall know nothing!” (Isaiah 6:9ff) If we take the time to look at this particular passage we note that just before it is the verse remembered in song: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?’ ‘Here I am,’ I said; ‘send me!’"
We must gather from the context of what Jesus is saying that those on the “outside” are those who will not or cannot listen to the promise, to the offer of salvation. As difficult as it is for us to understand, there are those who cannot understand that God’s love is so intense that he gave us His Only Son so that we might be saved. Instead, as they look at the proofs of that very promise, all they see is the surface, as a person looking at a lake on a sunny day. They see only a reflection of the sky above and perhaps a piece of the shore with its trees and rocks. They cannot see into the depths and to the wonders of God’s creation that lie beneath the surface.
When we encounter people like these, on the “outside,” we frequently think of them as having heard and rejected the invitation. We generally think they do not want to embrace the Son of God because they would have to turn from the lives they lead and follow a more difficult and disciplined path. We must revise our thoughts, mustn’t we? They do not understand, or cannot understand the meaning of what they see, “everything comes in parables.”
Today we thank God that he has provided us with a faith that allows us to see the promise and understand. Today we feel, as the Disciples did, sitting by the fire with the Lord, that there is an immense job for us to do, reaching out to the world so that they might finally see, understand, and find salvation in Christ.
Pax
No comments:
Post a Comment