Changing our Worldview; Changing our World 4

 A Study of Mark Week 4

Mark 4  Watch and Listen

“He began to teach them many things using parables.  He said, “A sower went out to sow…Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.” 

Photo by Ralph Milton

Jesus in the first three chapters has succeeded in angering the Herodians (Rome’s political power), the scribes and Sadducees (the religious elite in the Jerusalem temple), the Pharisees (the local religious authorities) and even his family.  His healings and teachings have challenged the economic, political and social systems that make some people rich while keeping many poor.  The many poor have been impressed and follow him in crowds. In chapter 4, Jesus turns his attention to his chosen disciples. Jesus knows that the initial naming and challenging of an injustice is only the beginning and that many are not up to the task of making real change happen.  It is like a farmer who sows his seed.  Some of the gospel message falls on deaf ears, some of it makes for a good sound bite but is easily forgotten, some of it gets choked out by the weeds of status quo, a desire for wealth, the cares of the world but the seeds that take root produce amazing results.  He goes on to say, “Don’t hide your lamp under a bushel.”  You may have heard, “measure for measure” or “the rich get richer while the poor lose everything.”  It doesn’t have to be that way.  “The farmer sows the seed and then waits.  As if by a miracle, one day, he sees that the harvest is ready! Then he is ready with his sickle to bring in that amazing crop, one hundredfold!  One that will get him out of debt forever!  Remember how a small seed, like a mustard seed can grow into a large tree that the birds of the air can nest in. 

Then Jesus ends up in a storm on the lake and discovers that his select group that he has been preparing to take over his mission don’t even have enough faith to survive the first storm they encounter!

I heard a recap of the “Arab Spring” on the radio.  It happened ten years ago.  From here it seems like not much has changed over there.  The last commentator said that things have changed.  People now know that change is possible, slow but possible.  She said that some women are protesting patriarchy by wearing their required black coverings inside out!  It reminded me of a small badge I carried in my briefcase for years.  It was given to me when I worked for the national church on some international committees.  The man who gave it to me had been in East Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall.  The badge was a symbol of a movement calling for peace and justice and unity.  When the movement and the wearing of the badge that symbolized it was forbidden by the state, the members tore the badge off their coat sleeves but left the hole where the badge had been.  One small step. 

Change takes patience and persistence.  Our culture values short-term immediate results.  Our indigenous traditions remind us to think ahead for seven generations, not just the next election cycle or today’s stock market returns. 

What are you listening to and for? How are you sharing the message that gospel living is possible?  What gives you courage and hope when the seeds just don’t seem to be sprouting?