David Bahn – Reflections

Mark 4:13-20

And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? ¹⁴ The sower sows the word. ¹⁵ And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. ¹⁶ And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. ¹⁷ And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. ¹⁸ And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, ¹⁹ but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. ²⁰ But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

A woman told her story of failure in her marriage recently. She had been struggling in her relationship with her husband. A coworker lent her a listening ear. What began as an innocent lunch and understanding conversation became an affair. She was discovered and her marriage ended tragically.

A young man was constantly short of money. His work put him in a position by which he was able to pocket cash that should have gone to his employer. What started as small amounts here and there for a Coke or candy bar, soon grew to hundreds of dollars a month. He was caught finally and lost his job. He now waits for trial.

There are many distractions from and challenges to walking the Christian path of discipleship. Some are obvious: sin and temptation interrupt, doubts and hardships intrude. Others are not so obvious. Football games become more important than worship: our moral compass goes haywire. Children’s sports pursuits to crowd out family time and spiritual formation: faith falters or withers away.

The Christmas season is a time fraught with opportunity for distraction and failure. It may be the company party with too much booze, too little restraint, and too many seductive conversations and suggestive outfits. It could be the endless parade of commercials touting this car or that diamond ring. It might even be the building resentment or envy that so easily creeps into our hearts as we see the conspicuous consumption of our neighbor.

Only by preparing our hearts by repentance and receiving the word by faith do we keep our souls from harm. Birds steal. Hard paths don’t allow deep roots. Thorns choke out good seed. But hearts deeply open to God’s truth will find the grace and truth that is embodied in Jesus to be a treasure and a source of life.