Week of Sabbath, Day Three, Evening Devotion

Prayer for hope and healing:

Lord of All,
The things of this world can impose on us, keeping us from seeking your guidance, and drawing us down the pathways of greed, contempt and selfishness. The good news is that we desire to do your will. Help us to turn to you for the strength to withstand the cares of the world, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things.
Amen

Reading: Mark 4:10-20

10 When Jesus was alone, those who were around him along with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11And he said to them, ‘To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables; 12in 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.” ’

13 And he said to them, ‘Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables? 14The sower sows the word. 15These 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. 16And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. 17But 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. 18And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word, 19but 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. 20And 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.’

Meditation:

I’m always amused by the first line of this passage. “When Jesus was alone, those who were with him along with the twelve…” Huh? Was he alone, or were there well over a dozen people there?

Of course, we all know that it is possible to feel alone in a room full of people. Sometimes we don’t know the other people very well. Sometimes we feel alone because we think we’re unworthy—because we think others in the room are smarter, or funnier, or have better jobs, or are better looking than we are.

One of the great things about the great parable which we’ve heard today is that it levels the playing field. Sort of. Mark’s Jesus makes the distinction between the disciples, who have been “given the secret of the kingdom of God,” and the other folks listening to Jesus, who must receive their teaching in parables. But the parable itself teaches us that anyone can be good soil for the Word of God. Anyone who hears the word and takes it into his or her being becomes a rich growing field for the work of the spirit.

--How are you good soil for God’s Word?

--What helps you to be good soil?

Prayer of joy:

God of all grace,
Your Word lights my path, illuminating the way of righteousness and love. With you I am never alone, no matter where I am. Thank you for your presence, and for nudging me onto the right pathways.
Amen