Commentary on the parable of the Sower: https://t.co/y3HeJClf7k pic.twitter.com/h2NoboncHg— John Henry Newman (@jhnewman) January 24, 2018
The Oracle of Nathan from the Second Book of Solomon establishes the Davidic line of Hebrew Kings and offers correction to the method thought appropriate by David.
The oracle establishes the Davidic king as standing in relationship to the Lord as a son to a father (v. 14; cf. Ps 2:7; 89:27). The Dynastic Oracle, with cognate texts in the Scriptures, is the basis for Jewish expectations of an anointed king (1 Sm 12:3, 5), son of David (Mt 21:9); cf. Acts 2:30; Heb 1:5.The Parable of the Sower in the Gospel of Mark declares the intention of God that we should live in the fruit of our offering of our mind, soul and strength to doing the will of God.
* [4:11–12] These verses are to be viewed against their background in Mk 3:6, 22 concerning the unbelief and opposition Jesus encountered in his ministry. It is against this background that the distinction in Jesus’ method becomes clear of presenting the kingdom to the disbelieving crowd in one manner and to the disciples in another. To the former it is presented in parables and the truth remains hidden; for the latter the parable is interpreted and the mystery is partially revealed because of their faith; see notes on Mt 13:11 and Mt 13:13.Our difficulty in understanding may be connected to our rejection of His invitation. Luis Rodriguez, S.J. is inspired by the text today to advise us that spirituality by comparison just does not make sense.
Thus comparison in the spiritual life is both pointless and deceiving. Pointless, because we do not have a gauge to assess the quality of the seed planted. It is also deceiving, because we do not have a basis for such comparison. When we think that we are yielding “only” thirtyfold or sixtyfold, we may be looking at our optimal yield. When we presume to judge others’ apparent thirtyfold or sixtyfold yield, we simply do not know what their optimal yield is supposed to be.We are truly incapable of judging the soil and seed of the other. This guiding principle is connected to the success of St. Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor, in his approach to the 16th Century Swiss Calvinist Protestants...
Corruption had deprived the Roman Catholic church of its credibility during the last centuries of the middle ages. The reformation of the church in Switzerland by Huldrych Zwingli, John Calvin and Guillaume Farel came a little later than the reformation in Germany by Martin Luther, but it did have a certain independence and it was more radical.that is reflected in the Collect Prayer for his memorial today.
O God, who for the salvation of souls willed that the Bishop Saint Francis de Sales become all things to all, graciously grant that, following his example, we may always display the gentleness of your charity in the service of our neighbor. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.The Catholic Culture website comments that Francis developed a gentle and amiable disposition even as by nature his temperament was choleric and fiery.
How Francis developed a gentle and amiable disposition is a story in itself; he was not born a saint. By nature his temperament was choleric, fiery; little was needed to throw him into a state of violent anger. It took years before he mastered his impatience, his unruly temper. Even after he became bishop, there were slips, as for instance, when someone rang a bell before he had finished preaching. The important point, of course, is that by constant perseverance he did in time attain perfect self-mastery. Wherein lies a lesson.A commentary by Franciscan Media repeats the power of a gentle spirit.
Francis de Sales took seriously the words of Christ, “Learn of me for I am meek and humble of heart.” As he said himself, it took him 20 years to conquer his quick temper, but no one ever suspected he had such a problem, so overflowing with good nature and kindness was his usual manner of acting. His perennial meekness and sunny disposition won for him the title of “Gentleman Saint.”Friar Jude Winkler provides background on the arrogance and possible unworthiness of David to build a Temple for God. The path, weeds and good soil of the parable are linked to our giving of intellect, possessions, strength and complete life to the Love of God and neighbour.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that Mark’s Gospel, written around 65 to 70 AD, focuses on Jesus’ “suffering servanthood.” Christians believe that we are “saved by the death and resurrection of Jesus.” The key is to put both together.
Jesus takes on our suffering, bears it, and moves through it to resurrection. This is “the paschal mystery.” We too can follow this path, actively joining God’s loving solidarity with all suffering since the foundation of the world. Jesus does not ask us to worship him. He asks us to follow him by trusting and allowing this risky but revealing journey. If God is indeed Infinite Love, then humans and all of creation are Infinite Becoming (which is the core meaning of “divinization” or theosis, the process of salvation).In “falling upward” we surrender ego and, like Francis de Sales, our natural tendencies for argument and arrogance, to join Jesus in the role of suffering servant to witness the fruit of the Spirit calling and transforming lives in daily “resurrections” from our self serving paths of rejection of Love.
References
(n.d.). CHAPTER 7 The Oracle of Nathan. 1 After the king had taken up .... Retrieved January 24, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/2samuel/2samuel7.htm
(n.d.). Mark, chapter 4 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved January 24, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/mark/4
(n.d.). Online Ministries - Creighton University. Retrieved January 24, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html
(n.d.). Memorial of St. Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor; Optional .... Retrieved January 24, 2018, from https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?id=24
(n.d.). Saint Francis de Sales – Franciscan Media. Retrieved January 24, 2018, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-francis-de-sales/
(n.d.). The Swiss Reformation: Calvin, Zwingli - Switzerland's History. Retrieved January 24, 2018, from http://history-switzerland.geschichte-schweiz.ch/reformation-switzerland-calvin.html
(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 24, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/
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