Immutable truths

Mark 4:1-20

           Yesterday (and on many previous occasions), I spoke of proper translations. Surely the immutable truths that scripture gives us is not about condoning slavery, the wisdom of handing your daughters over to rapists or that sexual intimacy is wrong. 

          In this reading we have a more clear presentation of immutable truths spoken by Jesus in reference to the sowing of seeds.  And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word, but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. 

          We are all searching for wholeness in life whether we realize it or not. Many people spend their entire lives searching for wholeness and meaning that is really only found in acceptance of self and loving God.  That I know it is a blessing for which I am eternally grateful. Many though seek wholeness and meaning in a variety of different ways before they find true meaning (if they ever do). In an effort to fill the void inside, many try to fill it with toys, spouses (plural), affairs, exhilarating experiences, travel and myriad other activities and possessions. Even in Jesus' day this was true although  I don't think there was bungee jumping and exoticars.

           It would be a wise man (or woman) who takes this very reading and thinks long and well on the subject. It could easily have an impact on their entire life. Further, it might save you countless tawdry affairs, alimony and the cost of countless toys, be that cars, games, boats or what have you.

       Please don't get me wrong, I am not arguing for the life of the Amish. There is nothing wrong with toys and possessions per se. Tawdry affairs, well that is nothing to be proud of and certainly is a way toward another goal if you are inclined to intensely warm places. It has been wisely said that it is not money that is the root of all evil but the love of money that is the root of all evil. I am sure God wishes us to enjoy our lives as we seek wholeness, meaning. But it is our willingness to share, love and seek Him that counts. We need to keep everything in perspective lest the word of God and our wholeness and beauty be choked off.

Again he began to teach beside the lake. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the lake on the land. He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.’ And he said, ‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’

When he was alone, those who were around him along with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, ‘To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables; in order that
“they may indeed look, but not perceive,
   and may indeed listen, but not understand;
so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.” ’

And he said to them, ‘Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word, but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. And these are the ones sown on the good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.’