WEDNESDAY, March 3 (John and Charles Wesley)

Mark 4:1-20. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundred-fold.

This is the beginning of Mark's chapter of parables, revealing Jesus' teaching rather than his mighty deeds. The parable of the sower is the most familiar. We are surprised, therefore, that it is explained so carefully. This may reflect an interpretation of Jesus' thought rather than the actual teaching, although Mark does say, in verse 34, that Jesus explained his parables later to his disciples. The emphasis is on the importance of attentive listening.

Surely in all good teaching all members of an audience get what they are equipped to receive, and Jesus would seem to encourage this, as he appears to in verses 10-12. How attentive are we to his message? How much do we get from it? Have we still deficiencies in the art of good listening? Do we do something about it? What is the good fruit we have borne? (1966)

Faith of our fathers! we will love

both friend and foe in all our strife:

and preach thee, too, as love knows how,

by kindly deeds and virtuous life.

--Hymnal 1982, #558

PRAY for the Diocese of Birmingham (Canterbury, England)

Ps 72; 119:73-96; Genesis 42:18-28; 1 Corinthians 5:9-6:8

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.

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Starting the Conversation

Mar 03, 2010 at 8:29 am

Written by Steve Doutt,

The idea that stands out for me in this meditation is that listening is an element of conversation. When the writer asked me, "how attentive" I am I had to pause and reflect; because, I normally start a conversation with God during my reading of his Word. Much of what I learn comes from this prayerful Q&A that I engage in with the Lord during or in-between reading sessions.

...

Mar 03, 2010 at 3:45 pm

Written by Philip M. McGhee,

Quodque recipitur per modum recipientis recipitur. Whatever is recieved is recieved by the way of the one who receives it. (Saint Thomas Aquinas)

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