Mass Readings and Meditations “The Word among Us” Friday, 31 January
2014
Meditations: Mark 4: The Parable of the Growing Seed
26 He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would
scatter seed on the ground, 27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the
seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth produces of
itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29 But
when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest
has come.”
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
30 He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God,
or what parable will we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when
sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it
is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth
large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”
The Use of Parables
33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they
were able to hear it; 34 he did not speak to them except in parables, but he
explained everything in private to his disciples.
Saint John Bosco, Priest
Of its own accord the land yields fruit. (Mark 4:28)
The kingdom of God is real. Better yet, it’s here now, growing
bigger and stronger, like the mustard tree in Jesus’ parable. It’s not just up
in heaven, awaiting the time when we will finally enter it. It is also here on
earth, where Jesus has sowed it among us as the smallest of seeds. Almost of
its own accord, the kingdom is coming to maturity. And although we aren’t
always aware of its presence, it extends over all creation, even over those who
don’t acknowledge its existence.
Jesus started his ministry by declaring the good news of the
coming of the kingdom. He proclaimed it in words and demonstrated it in power.
Healing, deliverance, repentance, transformed lives—these were the marks of the
kingdom in Jesus’ time, and they remain just as valid today. Whenever and
wherever they occur, they declare to an unbelieving world that God is real. And
if that’s not enough, we also have the fruits of the Holy Spirit—love, joy,
peace, and the rest that bear powerful witness to the kingdom (Galatians 5:22).
Brothers and sisters, God has called us into his kingdom and
glory. He wants to have a close, loving relationship with each one of us. Jesus
lived, died, and rose again just so that we could belong to that kingdom. Even
though we may struggle here and now, we know that this kingdom will one day
overcome all sin, suffering, and death.
Until that time comes, we can declare and demonstrate the
kingdom to everyone around us. It’s not too hard. When someone is sick, offer
to pray with him or her for healing. Should chaos erupt in our homes, pray for
protection from any darkness that may be oppressing your family.
Above all, live in love. Try to demonstrate God’s love a little
more every day. Make it a point to show more affection to your children or
spouse or parents. Offer a kind word to your neighbor. Reach out to a
parishioner who seems alone. Instead of just telling people about God’s love,
demonstrate it with real, concrete expressions. Let them see the kingdom of
God—present in your own life!
“Holy Spirit, I believe the kingdom of God is active here and
now. Give me the courage to speak, pray, and work to reveal it to the world.”
Amen!
2 Samuel 11: David Commits Adultery with Bathsheba
1 In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to
battle, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel with him; they ravaged
the Ammonites, and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
2 It happened, late one afternoon, when David rose from his
couch and was walking about on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from
the roof a woman bathing; the woman was very beautiful. 3 David sent someone to
inquire about the woman. It was reported, “This is Bathsheba daughter of Eliam,
the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 So David sent messengers to get her, and she
came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she was purifying herself after her
period.) Then she returned to her house. 5 The woman conceived; and she sent
and told David, “I am pregnant.”
6 So David sent word to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And
Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and
the people fared, and how the war was going. 8 Then David said to Uriah, “Go
down to your house, and wash your feet.” Uriah went out of the king’s house,
and there followed him a present from the king. 9 But Uriah slept at the
entrance of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go
down to his house. 10 When they told David, “Uriah did not go down to his
house,” David said to Uriah, “You have just come from a journey. Why did you
not go down to your house?”
13 David invited him to eat and drink in his presence and made
him drunk; and in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants
of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.
David Has Uriah Killed
14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by
the hand of Uriah. 15 In the letter he wrote, “Set Uriah in the forefront of
the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, so that he may be struck
down and die.” 16 As Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to the
place where he knew there were valiant warriors. 17 The men of the city came
out and fought with Joab; and some of the servants of David among the people
fell. Uriah the Hittite was killed as well.
Psalm 51: 3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever
before me.
4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
and done what is evil
in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
and blameless when you
pass judgment.
5 Indeed, I was born guilty,
a sinner when my mother conceived me.
6 You desire truth in the inward being;[a]
therefore teach me
wisdom in my secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall
be whiter than snow.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 51:6 Meaning of Heb uncertain
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and
right[a] spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your
holy spirit from me.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 51:10 Or steadfast
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