2 Sm 7:4-17 Ps 89:4-5, 27-28, 29-30 Mk 4:1-20

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

When I read these passages for the first time I was shocked by how well they correlate. This particular gospel is a perfect example of Jesus fulfilling the Old Testament because his parable elaborates on God's message in the first reading. Each reading explains what should be considered truly important values to all people of faith. They clearly state that to be followers we should focus on spreading the good news rather than allowing personal distractions and temptations to prevent us from our mission.

We see the correlation in the parable from today's gospel and God's message in the first reading. In the first reading we hear of the seeds scattered by the sower that can not grow due to various barriers. One seed does not grow because "when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away." Jesus says that these people are initially excited about the word but do not develop roots. When our views are contested or our beliefs make us the minorities, we often give up. The only way for us to develop deep, faithful roots is through each other. Just think of how deep we can plant the seeds of our faith if we all work together as one church. There is a lot of pain, suffering, and trials in our world, but if we are truly united as a community we can all lighten the load for our brothers and sisters as they lighten our load. We have nothing to fear because God proclaims that he "will give us rest from all our enemies." We do not need to worry about being dependent on others and in turn becoming vulnerable. God takes away our enemies to allow us to devote our time and thoughts on being disciples of Jesus and pursue with action rather than getting caught up in anxiety.

We continue to hear some of God's advice in the first reading when God says to Nathan "Should you build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house." Then goes on to ask, "In all my wanderings everywhere among the children of Israel, did I ever utter a word to any one of the judges whom I charged to tend my people Israel, to ask: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?'" Here, God clearly explains that fancy accommodations are unnecessary. We often think that we must have a nice church with nice decorations and nice behavior in order to worship. However, God tells us that he is among us, his children. We must act as a church, a community, rather than attempting to satisfy societal beliefs and fit into modern trends. A true church, as this reading explains, is being with each other and acting as one. It is so hard for us to recognize our dependence on others. We are too afraid of becoming vulnerable that we build literal and figurative walls to separate ourselves from others. Why must there be an 'ourselves' and an 'others?' If we are truly dedicated to following God's message, there must only be a 'we.'

Jesus boldly states that "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear." We have heard his message and we proclaim to be followers, so we should follow. We have eyes to see the injustices of the world, so we should choose to see. We have hearts to feel the pain and suffering that others must endure, so we should choose to be compassionate. The sights we see and the emotions we feel must lead us to action. Now is the time to come together in one common mission: forming a united church. We must go to the places and people our church currently does not attend to and reach out to them. This requires us to address our stereotypes and uncomfortable feelings head on and reformat our way of thinking. We must only see Jesus.