Scripture Reading: Mark 4:3-20 TEV
“And Jesus concluded, “Listen, then if you have ears.” Mark 4:9
This phrase in chapter 4 of Mark’s gospel is at the conclusion of the parable of the sower. That parable is one of the few that Jesus supposedly interprets for the Disciples. The interpretation in Mark 4:13-20 seems to focus on the seeds and the consequence of their landing on various kinds of soil. But, the interpretation actually begins with the words “The sower sows God’s message. The key to understanding the parable of the sower is to recognize that it is not about the seed but rather about the sower. Jesus’ final comment about hearing was his attempt to get them to focus on the real truth about the Kingdom of God that the parable reveals. The listeners should think about the sower and understand what he is saying about that person.
When we think of the audience who was listening, including the disciples, we know that these were the common folk of that time, not the rich and powerful. These were those living on the edge of society, abused by the power structures of both the Jewish and Roman leaders. Surely in that audience there was a preponderant sense of powerlessness and discouragement. Yet Jesus was asking them to plant the seeds of the Kingdom, to embody through their own lives faith in the ultimate power of God in the world.
When I think of this parable in this context, I am faced with a challenge to live within the Kingdom despite the negative influences of the secular world, and I am given a message of absolute hope that some of the seeds I plant will bring forth great abundance. I am also relieved of the burden of feeling totally responsible for the crop which results. I am told simply to go out and keep sowing and God will bring forth the fruits. At the same time I am told to accept the reality of this finite world, that a lot of seed will go to waste. Jesus was the consummate realist. He had no romantic illusions about the world. He also knew that the Kingdom of God would ultimately prevail. So he kept planting and asked his followers to keep at it as well and let the results lie with God.
The witness to this truth is found in the many examples of our own time. The Civil Rights movement, the women’s movement, the LGBT movement, all have seen a lot of seed planting with various results, but ultimately the light of God’s presence begins to emerge with powerful and transforming consequences. The parable of the sower is a message of hope to all who feel that their efforts to create a better world seem so fragile. It’s a call to keep up our efforts believing that in the long run God’s will will be done.
Reflections 