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March 19 Mark 4:1-20
THE BIG SURPRISE here is not that Jesus spoke in parables. He was famous for parables--Good Samaritan, Prodigal Son, mustard seed. St . Mark says "he did not speak to them except in parables". It was his preferred manner.
The surprise is that the avowed intention of doing so is not to help people but hinder them, not teach them but trouble them--"see but not perceive, listen but not understand". That does not sound like my expectation of Jesus. What is this about?
Two things: first this parable, the parable of the sower. There is an entire cast of pitfalls and oppositions to a successful harvest--in nature, in the basic ground, in the elements. It will not be automatic or easy attaining a good harvest, but difficult. The successful harvest can happen and when it does it will be astounding, a "hundredfold", but if you think it will be as simple as telling a joke or retaking a test you have failed think again; slim, slim margin to succeed. So I wonder if the Lord wants us, needs us to be initially offended at his statement in order that we not think this realm of God is easy, automatic. Watch out, he is saying, face oppositions, he saying, prepare for gripping work, the harvest is out there but you have to want it.
Second, in Lent especially, put aside the picture of Jesus as a simple, kindly friend of the soul. Sometimes Jesus is like a surgeon
who has to cut deep before the injury, the wound is really ready for healing. Jesus can be demanding as well as excusing for our sake too.
John Condon
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