The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today exhort us to seek the revelation of God’s plan for our journey to sow the seeds of full life for the people in our environment.
The reading from the Second Book of Samuel declares God’s Covenant with David in the Oracle of Nathan.
* [7:8–16] The message Nathan delivers to David, called the Dynastic Oracle, is prompted by David’s intention to build a house (i.e., a temple) for the Lord, like David’s own house (i.e., palace) of cedar. David is told, in effect, not to bother building a house for the Lord; rather, the Lord will make a house for him—a dynasty, the House of David. Not only will he have descendants (v. 12) who will sit upon the throne of Israel (v. 13), their rule will last forever (vv. 13, 16); and even if they transgress the Lord’s commands, the line of David will never be removed from kingship as Saul was (cf. 1 Sm 13; 15). 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.
* [7:13] He it is: Solomon, in the event.
* [7:16] The unconditional promise made here, and reflected in Ps 89:34–35, stands in contrast to the tradition in Ps 132:12, where the continuation of the line of David depends on their fidelity to the Lord; cf. also 1 Kgs 2:4; 6:12; 8:25. (2 Samuel, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 89 praise God’s Covenant with David.
* [Psalm 89] The community laments the defeat of the Davidic king, to whom God promised kingship as enduring as the heavens (Ps 89:2–5). The Psalm narrates how God became king of the divine beings (Ps 89:6–9) and how the Davidic king became king of earthly kings (Ps 89:20–38). Since the defeat of the king calls into question God’s promise, the community ardently prays God to be faithful to the original promise to David (Ps 89:39–52).
* [89:3–5] David’s dynasty is to be as long-lasting as the heavens, a statement reinforced by using the same verbs (establish, stand) both of the divine love and loyalty and of the Davidic dynasty and throne, cf. Ps 89:29–30. (Psalms, PSALM 89, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus presents the Parable of the Sower and shares the Purpose of the Parables.
* [4:1–34] In parables (Mk 4:2): see note on Mt 13:3. The use of parables is typical of Jesus’ enigmatic method of teaching the crowds (Mk 4:2–9, 12) as compared with the interpretation of the parables he gives to his disciples (Mk 4:10–25, 33–34) to each group according to its capacity to understand (Mk 4:9–11). The key feature of the parable at hand is the sowing of the seed (Mk 4:3), representing the breakthrough of the kingdom of God into the world. The various types of soil refer to the diversity of response accorded the word of God (Mk 4:4–7). The climax of the parable is the harvest of thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold, indicating the consummation of the kingdom (Mk 4:8). Thus both the present and the future action of God, from the initiation to the fulfillment of the kingdom, is presented through this and other parables (Mk 4:26–29, 30–32).
* [4:1] By the sea: the shore of the Sea of Galilee or a boat near the shore (Mk 2:13; 3:7–8) is the place where Mark depicts Jesus teaching the crowds. By contrast the mountain is the scene of Jesus at prayer (Mk 6:46) or in the process of forming his disciples (Mk 3:13; 9:2).
* [4:3–8] See note on Mt 13:3–8.
* [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. (Mark, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)
Gladyce Janky imagines many people gathered around Jesus relating to this parable, but perhaps some were confused about the imagery of seeds tossed into less favorable places.
I hear a caution and two invitations in this reading. The caution I hear is not to allow my life to be held hostage by what Ignatius calls disordered attachments, such as threats of persecution, anxiety, a desire for wealth, and unhealthy cravings (Mk 4:16-19). The first invitation is to push my roots in well-tended soil to grow closer to God’s love. The second invitation is to listen and hear God’s voice, which empowers me to bear fruit (Mk 4:20) within the concrete circumstances of my life. One way I can bear fruit is by extending a welcome and offering accompaniment to anyone longing to live in richer soil. (Janky, 2024)
Don Schwager quotes “Why does this generation seek a sign,” by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD).
"As the sower fairly and indiscriminately disperses seed broadly over all his field, so does God offer gifts to all,11 making no distinction between rich and poor, wise and foolish, lazy or diligent, brave or cowardly. He addresses everyone, fulfilling his part, although knowing the results beforehand.... Why then, tell me, was so much of the seed lost? Not through the sower, but through the ground that received it-meaning the soul that did not listen.... Even though more seed would be lost than survive, the disciples were not to lose heart. For it is the way of the Lord never to stop sowing the seed, even when he knows beforehand that some of it will not respond. But how can it be reasonable, one asks, to sow among the thorns, or on the rock, or alongside the road? Maybe it is not reasonable insofar as it pertains only to seeds and earth, for the bare rock is not likely to turn into tillable soil, and the roadside will remain roadside and the thorns, thorns. But in the case of free wills and their reasonable instruction, this kind of sowing is praiseworthy. For the rocky soul can in time turn into rich soil. Among souls, the wayside may come no longer to be trampled by all that pass, and may become a fertile field. The thorns may be destroyed and the seed enjoy full growth. For had this not been impossible, this sower would not have sown. And even if no change whatever occurs in the soul, this is no fault of the sower, but of those who are unwilling to be changed. He has done his part." (excerpt from GOSPEL OF ST. MATTHEW, HOMILY 44.5.1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 4:1-20 asks what is the condition of our “soil”? In a homily on this parable, Pope Francis said it is most likely a mix of the “good” and the “not yet good.” The Holy Father urges us to “look inside ourselves” to see whether “our heart is open to welcome the seed of the Word of God with faith.” Then we must courageously bring our “rocks of laziness” and our “thorns of vice” to the Lord in Confession and prayer.
So don’t be afraid to search for the rocks and thorns that have taken up room in your heart! Pope Francis assures us that Jesus, the “Good Sower,” will be more than glad to remove them. And with your heart “reclaimed,” you’ll be ready to receive the word that bears fruit for the Lord “thirty and sixty and a hundredfold” (Mark 4:20).
“Lord Jesus, you are my Master Gardener. I surrender my rocks and thorns to you. Reclaim the soil of my heart today.” (Meditation on Mark 4:1-20, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler shares the narrative whereby Nathan reveals the Dynasty that God intends for David’s descendants. God, known as Emet, is truthful and faithful to His people, Israel. Friar Jude connects the Parable of the Sower to the Great Commandment and our love of God with our whole mind, soul, and possessions.
Barbara Holmes comments that our faith invites us to choose joy amid crisis and injustice.
We are not required to fight for our reality; we can just live it. We can be weird and whole and as shapeshifting as necessary, for we are being called to another purpose. We are being invited to awaken to our true nature as spirit beings, energy sharers, and prophets of potential. The joy spoken of in Holy Scripture is accessible, but also has a certain “beyondness” to it: The world didn’t give it and the world can’t take it away. As we hear from Jesus in John 16:22: “So you have pain now; but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” [1]
Brian McLaren describes the radical trust and resilience that spiritual practices can offer in difficult times.
To trust in the process is another way of saying to trust in an intelligence wiser than current human intelligence, to trust in a love deeper than current expressions of human love, to trust in a desire stronger and wiser than current expressions of human desire. Christians refer to this wisdom, love, and desire as God or the Divine or the Creative Spirit, and others can find their own ways of naming it…. To use familiar biblical language, we will need to walk by faith through the valley of the shadow of death [Psalm 23:4], always holding anticipative space for something beautiful to be born, especially during the most painful contractions. [2] (McLaren, 2024)
We assess our response to the call to invoke the Spirit to prepare our mind, our soul and our worldly possessions for the mission that joins the Sower in planting seeds of love and acceptance.
References
Holmes, B. (2024, January 24). Faith Calls Us to Joy — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 24, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/faith-calls-us-to-joy/
Janky, G. (2024, January 24). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved January 24, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/012424.html
Mark, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 24, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/4?
McLaren, B. (2024, January 24). Faith Calls Us to Joy — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 24, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/faith-calls-us-to-joy/
Meditation on Mark 4:1-20. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 24, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/01/24/881616/
Psalms, PSALM 89. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 24, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/89?
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Taught People Using Parables. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved January 24, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jan24
2 Samuel, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 24, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2samuel/7?4
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