Saturday, October 10, 2015

Let Me Be Good Soil; Calm the Storms in My Life...

Image from mark-katsouros.blogspot.com

Today was spent reading chapter four of Mark. Here are what spoke to me:

As Jesus teaches, we see introduced the use of parables as a way to teach. A simple, but powerful story to capture and hold the audience's attention, while sharing a powerful truth. This first parable used in Mark is the Parable of the Sower, in which Jesus talks about growing the kingdom of God. The story has a farmer sowing seed in an ancient way of growing crops, but useful in sharing how the word of God is shared and the reception it receives. Some see, Jesus says, falls along a path only to be eaten by birds. Some falls on rocky soil and sprouts up quickly only to have the sun come and scorch it and it withers away since it had no root. Some seed falls among thorns which grew up only to be choked by these thorns. Some does fall on good soil, takes root, and produces a good harvest of 30, 60 or even 100 times what was planted.

The disciples ask why He teaches in this way. Jesus responds that the secret to the kingdom of God is being shared with them only, and quoting the prophet Isaiah speaks of those who, sadly, will never hear, nor receive, nor bear fruit. But, Jesus takes time to explain the parable of the sower; The seed that fell along the path, Jesus says, is that which is heard by those who hold it only until Satan comes and tempts them away. Some, like the rocky soil, hear and receive ti joy, but as soon as trouble or persecution comes along, they give up their faith. Others hear the word only to have the worries of this life, the temptations of wealth, and the desire for other things, takes them away and the word is unfruitful. And yet, Jesus says, some does fall on good soil where the word is heard, accepted, and the crop is bountiful; 30, 60, 100 times what was sown. Jesus also says those who do hear and receive, should be like a lamp on a stand, giving witness to all, of what good has come to their lives.

Jesus also speaks of the Parable of the Growing Seed - what word that is heard and shared and grows, and those who hear it, share it with others, who share it with others, and it continues to grow, producing a great harvest!

Jesus then speaks of the mustard seed. Tiniest among all seeds, when planted grows big enough, Jesus says, to provide support and shade for birds. In the same way, our faith, tiny at first, should mature and bless others as we expose it to needed things, sunlight, water, nourishment.

The chapter ends with Jesus crossing the lake, falls asleep on a cushion and a storm arises. The disciples freak and awaken Jesus. Jesus rebuked the winds and calms the waves. The disciples then ask, "Who is this that even the winds and the waves obey Him?" Yes, indeed, Who is this?

MARK MY WORDS PRAYER: Loving God, let me be good, fertile soil in which Your word can take root in a way that give witness to the world about You. Let me see the storms in my life calmed and stilled by You. In Thy name I pray, Jesus my Lord, amen.