This coming Sunday is the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The scholar Pheme Perkins [579] offers these reflections on this Markan passage.

“The seed parables point to the certain harvest that stems from next-to-invisible beginnings. The lack of human agency during the growth process does not mean that disciples should sit back and wait for God to bring the harvest. The proverbial sayings on how faith increases warn against such a conclusion. Instead, the image of a certain harvest from invisible beginnings promises that even though our testimony to the gospel appears insignificant or even fruitless, Christians should not be discouraged or give up. Christians should beware of giving in to the mania for statistics as evidence of success, which dominates modern life. When the harvest is ripe, it will be time for the reaper.”

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This coming Sunday is the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time.  33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. 34 Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private. (Mark 4:32-34) Continue reading →

This coming Sunday is the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time. 30 He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. 32 But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” (Mark 4:40-32) Continue reading →

This coming Sunday is the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Mark alone records the parable of the “Seed that Grows Itself”:  26 He said, “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land 27 and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28 Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” Continue reading →

This coming Sunday is the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time. One notable feature of this Markan chapter occurs early in the chapter when Jesus begins the parable with “Hear this! A sower went out to sow…” (v.3) and then closes the teaching with “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” (v.9)  While ending a parable with a plea to discern is typical of the presentation of many parables, the doublet that bookends the first parable of Mark 4 is highly unusual when compared to the traditional Jewish presentation of the masahal/parable. There is interesting scholarly debate on the reason for this doublet, but one possible answer is that parables reveal those who are merely curious at this wonder-worker from the ones who are led by the Spirit to seek the Kingdom. In addition, when the authorities are “watching” it does provide a degree of uncertainty about the message being taught. Continue reading →