Preparation
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Blessed are you, Sovereign God,
king of the nations,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
your name is proclaimed in all the world.
As the Sun of Righteousness dawns in our hearts
anoint our lips with the seal of your Spirit
that we may witness to your gospel
and sing your praise in all the earth.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
Mark 4.26-34
Jesus said to the twelve and those around him, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.’
He also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 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.’
With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.
Reflection
With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.
Throughout my life I have often found myself hearing someone speak whilst realising that I have not understood a word that has been said. As both wise and foolish words have been poured out my capacity to comprehend has been challenged. This human capacity to ‘switch off’ has led to misunderstanding and dissent in my own life, just as it has in everyone’s lives at different times and in different circumstances.
Throughout his ministry Jesus taught the people about the Kingdom of Heaven and about the joy of being in a meaningful relationship with his Heavenly Father. He knew that these subjects were too vast for the human brain to completely comprehend. To help us understand better he enshrined his teaching in parables, short stories and scenarios that were underpinned by divine truth. Like all good teachers, Jesus sought to find a way around our capacity to hear without really listening.
As we hear the words of Scripture, as we are invited to embrace the Good News of Jesus Christ, we often fail to comprehend the message we are hearing. We allow the words to wash over us and then we distort them into a shape that suits us. Rather than listening to the message we take it as a starting point. Rather than following its teaching to the letter we introduce moments of compromise, often without realising just how far we are straying away from God and into the arms of the devil.
Throughout human history we have seen terrible atrocities performed because of people’s mishearing and misunderstanding of a message. On this Holocaust Memorial Day we remember the victims of just such a terrible moment in human history; we hear of those who followed an eloquent but evil man who led many, otherwise good people, down a path of cruelty and persecution. We remember those who failed to hear the message of love, or who interpreted it as a message of weakness; we remember those who chose to go with the herd and attempt to eliminate vast numbers of their fellow human beings … because their hearing was not backed up by proper listening and understanding.
Today we pray that the true message of Christ may be heard and heeded by all. Today we pray that Jesus’ message of self-giving love and selfless service might become rooted in our very being. Today we pray that the death of ‘self’ might bring about a harvest of righteousness.
Prayers
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
let us pray to the Lord.
That the people of God in all the world
may worship in spirit and in truth,
let us pray to the Lord.
That the Church may discover again
that unity which is the Father’s will,
let us pray to the Lord.
That the nations of the earth
may seek after the ways that make for peace,
let us pray to the Lord.
That the whole creation, groaning in travail,
may be set free to enjoy the glorious liberty of the children of God,
let us pray to the Lord.
That all who with Christ have entered the shadow of death
may rest in peace and rise in glory,
let us pray to the Lord.
Let us commend the world, to which Christ showed the way,
to the mercy and protection of God.
Creator of the heavens,
who led the Magi by a star
to worship the Christ-child:
guide and sustain us,
that we may find our journey’s end
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Believing the promises of God,
let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Christ the Son of God
perfect in us the image of his glory
and gladden our hearts
with the good news of his kingdom;
and may the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us and remain with us always.
Amen.
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