Breaking the Word

Week 3 of Ordinary Time, Saturday – 28^th January 2023 — Gospel: Mark 4,35-41

Sermon on the Sea

Jesus had been teaching the multitude in parables from a boat anchored just offshore (4,1). His lengthy teaching is called Mark’s “Sermon on the Sea”. Having completed a day of teaching (4,1-34), it is the first time in the Gospel that Jesus has been called “Teacher”. This time he teaches a powerful lesson of faith, learned by experience. Jesus’ subduing of the sea is an epiphany, a manifestation of his divine authority.  In the Old Testament sea is often viewed as a symbol of chaos and the habitation of evil powers (Job 26,12-13;  Ps 74,13-14; Is 27,1). Jesus exorcises these adverse forces of nature with the same authority with which he freed human beings from demonic oppression. ‘Rebuked’ is the same word used to describe his casting out of unclean spirits (1,25; 3,12). As the disciples knew well, God alone has power to subdue the seas: “You rule the raging sea; you still its swelling waves” (Ps 89,10; Job 38,38; Ps 65,8). Indeed, from the Exodus on, God’s control of the sea has signified his tender care for his people (Ex 15; Is 51,10). So after Jesus calms the storm, their abject terror of the forces of nature has been replaced by reverential fear of the presence of God in Jesus.

3rd Week in Ord. Time, Friday – 27th January 2023 — Gospel: Mark 4,26-34

Growth without Human Intervention

Jesus being a very good teacher used ordinary seed parables to make the people understand easily about what He spoke. He used the parable of the growing seed and the parable of the mustard seed. Both teachings concern the mystery of “the kingdom of God” (vv.26,30). Both these parables begin with the sowing of seed in the ground, and both describe the beginning and final stages of the process of growing seed. Parables are different: the first one focuses its attention on the interim stages of growth, whereas the second focuses on the final outcome. The parables emphasize the power and potency that is in the seed itself. The seed inevitably grows and matures independent of any action on the part of the farmer. Nothing is said of the many activities normally done by the farmer, like ploughing, tilling, watering, weeding and fertilizing. Jesus teaches that God’s reign is not a human achievement. It does not depend on the understanding or actions of his disciples. The parable encourages to continue sowing the gospel in the world, even when we don’t see many results.