Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus
As we walk in faith and observe the Great Lent, of which we are now in the second week, I would like to bring your thoughts to the Gospel Reading of the day, i.e. reading from the Gospel of St. Mark 4:21-34. This passage is basically about the various parables that had been said by Jesus and if you read the whole chapter, we would understand some of the most well known and most taught parables that Jesus had taught. I would mostly be looking at the two parables that are in verses 21-25 (The Lamp under the Basket) and verse 26-29 (The Parable of the Scattered Seed).
The Lamp Under the Basket - St. Mark 4:21-25
Before we understand the passage, it is important to understand the image and purpose of the lamp. A lamp is a source of light in darkness to avoid stumbling. The Jews also understood that the "light" as an expression of inner beauty, truth and the goodness of God.
In His light we see light (Psalm 36:9)
His Word is a lamp that guides our steps (Psalm 119:105)
We as followers of Christ Jesus have the Eternal Light shining in our lives. And His light, not only illuminates the darkness in our lives, but it also fills us with spiritual light, joy and peace. Jesus used the example of the lamp to describe how His disciples are to live in the light of His truth and love. Just as natural light illumines the darkness and enables us to see visually, so the light of Christ shines in the hearts of the believers and enables us to see the heavenly reality of God's kingdom.
In fact, our mission is to be the light-bearers of Christ so that others may see the truth of the gospel and be freed from the blindness of sin and deception. Jesus remarks that nothing can ever remain hidden or secret. We try to hide the light of Christ from others and it is like placing a lid on the light of Jesus that shines in our lives. If a lamp doesn't help people on how to find the correct path, i.e. the path to find God and how to live for Him, then what use is the light in our lives? Do not hide your lights by the baskets of complacency, resentment, embarrassment, stubbornness of heart, or disobedience. Let your light shine forth and let the people know the True God.
The Parable of the Scattered Seed - St. Mark 4:26-29
This parable is very unique to the Gospel of St. Mark, for this is not mentioned by any of the other Gospel writers. This parable reveals about the how the Word of God - the seed, produces fruit and how it grows. The growth produced by the Word is a mystery, for the sower can sow the seed and see it sprout and grow, but the growth in itself is beyond his comprehension, and even the seed grows by itself. The growth is also gradual, it does not occur all at once, but step by step, first the blade, then the head, then the full grain. But through such growth, the harvest comes eventually. So the Kingdom of God, growing by the virtue of the Word of God being planted, is similar to the amazing growth observed in the sowing of grain.
In our mission to be light-bearers of Christ, we must be like the sower in the parable, sowing the Word of God in the lives of all those around us. We should share the Word of God with all expecting and praying for a plentiful harvest. The harvest will not be sudden and over-night, but it will take time for the "seed" - The Word of God, to sprout in the lives of the hearers and take root. But just like a sower, we need to water the soil and keep on giving nutrients by encouraging them and not lose hope when the seed takes time to grow in their lives.
May the Lord Almighty bless you and keep you and enable you to be the light-bearers of Christ and sowers of the Word of God in the lives of many people around you.
Your brother in Christ Jesus
Jobin George
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