CCC Cross Reference:
Heb 10:32 1216; Heb 10:36 2826
Mk 4:33-34 546
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Reading 1
Heb 10:32-39
Remember the days past when, after you had been enlightened,
you endured a great contest of suffering.
At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and affliction;
at other times you associated yourselves with those so treated.
You even joined in the sufferings of those in prison
and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property,
knowing that you had a better and lasting possession.
Therefore, do not throw away your confidence;
it will have great recompense.
You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised.
For, after just a brief moment,
he who is to come shall come;
he shall not delay.
But my just one shall live by faith,
and if he draws back I take no pleasure in him.
We are not among those who draw back and perish,
but among those who have faith and will possess life.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 37:3-4, 5-6, 23-24, 39-40
R. (39a) The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Trust in the LORD and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will grant you your heart’s requests.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Commit to the LORD your way;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make justice dawn for you like the light;
bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
By the LORD are the steps of a man made firm,
and he approves his way.
Though he fall, he does not lie prostrate,
for the hand of the LORD sustains him.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
he is their refuge in time of distress.
And the LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Gospel
Mk 4:26-34
Jesus said to the crowds:
“This is how it is with the Kingdom of God;
it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land
and would sleep and rise night and day
and the seed would sprout and grow,
he knows not how.
Of its own accord the land yields fruit,
first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once,
for the harvest has come.”
He said,
“To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God,
or what parable can we use for it?
It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground,
is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.
But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants
and puts forth large branches,
so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”
With many such parables
he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.
Without parables he did not speak to them,
but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
First reading Hebrews 10:32-39
Remember all the sufferings that you had to meet after you received the light, in earlier days; sometimes by being yourselves publicly exposed to insults and violence, and sometimes as associates of others who were treated in the same way. For you not only shared in the sufferings of those who were in prison, but you happily accepted being stripped of your belongings, knowing that you owned something that was better and lasting. Be as confident now, then, since the reward is so great. You will need endurance to do God’s will and gain what he has promised.
Only a little while now, a very little while,
and the one that is coming will have come; he will not delay.
The righteous man will live by faith,
but if he draws back, my soul will take no pleasure in him.
You and I are not the sort of people who draw back, and are lost by it; we are the sort who keep faithful until our souls are saved.
Responsorial Psalm:
Psalm 36(37):3-6,23-24,39-40
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
If you trust in the Lord and do good,
then you will live in the land and be secure.
If you find your delight in the Lord,
he will grant your heart’s desire.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Commit your life to the Lord,
trust in him and he will act,
so that your justice breaks forth like the light,
your cause like the noon-day sun.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
The Lord guides the steps of a man
and makes safe the path of one he loves.
Though he stumble he shall never fall
for the Lord holds him by the hand.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord,
their stronghold in time of distress.
The Lord helps them and delivers them
and saves them: for their refuge is in him.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Gospel Mark 4:26-34
Jesus said to the crowds, ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man throws seed on the land. Night and day, while he sleeps, when he is awake, the seed is sprouting and growing; how, he does not know. Of its own accord the land produces first the shoot, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the crop is ready, he loses no time: he starts to reap because the harvest has come.’
He also said, ‘What can we say the kingdom of God is like? What parable can we find for it? It is like a mustard seed which at the time of its sowing in the soil is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.’
Using many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, so far as they were capable of understanding it. He would not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything to his disciples when they were alone.
Readings and Commentary from the Navarre Bible
Friday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time
From: Hebrews 10:32-39
Motives for Perseverance (Continuation)
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[32] But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, [33] sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. [34] For you had compassion on the prisoners, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.[35] Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. [36] For you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised. [37] "For yet a little while, and the coming one shall come and shall not tarry; [38] but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him." [39] But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and keep their souls.
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Commentary:
32-34. A Christian is called to share the persecution which Christ suffered. "A disciple is not above his teacher", our Lord said (cf. Mt 10:22-25; Lk 12:11-12; In 15:18); anyone who wanted to follow him would have to carry his cross (cf. Mt 10:38; 16:24; Mk 8:34; Lk 9:23; 14:27). These words of our Lord have always been borne out in practice. In the Acts of the Apostles we are told of how the Sanhedrin persecuted the Apostles, and of how certain Jews acted against Stephen, and Herod against James and Peter, etc. The early Christians bore these afflictions bravely and even availed of them to spread the faith--first to Samaria, then to Antioch, and later throughout the whole Roman empire. The text here speaks of their courage. It may be thinking of the severe persecution instituted by Nero after the burning of Rome. Given these circumstances, the addressees, and Christians in general, need to keep their baptismal faith, their "enlightenment", intact: they should be mindful of "the former days" and copy those who compete and fight in public not minding that they are making a "public exhibition" of themselves (cf. 1 Cor 4:9).
Undoubtedly the persecution suffered by Christians who were converted from Judaism was severe. They were subject to "abuse" and "affliction", words which point to affronts, insults, ridicule, and treatment typical of religious persecution -- confiscation of property, imprisonment and even flogging and other forms of punishment. Our early brethren in the faith not only bore these afflictions but also showed their solidarity and charity by generously sharing the suffering of those who were thrown in prison.
And yet even these persecutions had very good effects (cf. 1 Pet 1:6-9; Jas 1:3-4), in that they helped the people concerned to be detached from material things and place their hope in divine rewards. In the same type of way, every Christian needs to face up to the difficulties and contradictions he experiences in life.
"Are things going against you? Are you going through a rough time? Say very slowly, as if relishing it, this powerful and courageous prayer: 'May the most just and lovable will of God be done, be fulfilled, be praised and eternally exalted above all things. Amen. Amen.' I assure you that you will find peace" ("The Way", 691).
35-39. The "confidence" mentioned in v. 35 is a translation of a Greek word which refers to the ease and trusting frankness with which a person addresses a good friend or God.
The sacred writer renews his call to endurance in the face of persecution. St John Chrysostom compares the situation of the Christians addressed in this letter with that of an athlete who has won a competition and is now simply waiting for the president of the games to award him the laurels. "From now on there is no further combat; all you must do is hold on to the merit you have won, and you will not lose your reward [...]. No further combat is called for: all that is necessary is perseverance. Just hold out and you will gain your laurels; you have already suffered all you need to obtain them--contentions, chains, pain, loss of property. What more could you have done? All that remains for you to do is wait patiently for the prize to be given you. If there is a delay, it will only be for a short while" ("Hom. on Heb., ad loc.").
Here, as St Thomas comments, endurance refers to two things -- the strength that enables one to stay loyal despite persecution, and the assurance of one who is confident of obtaining certain things he does not yet possess. The letter's exhortation to endurance is supported by two quotations from Sacred Scripture. The first, from Isaiah 26:20, is a reminder that God will soon judge the impious; the second from Habakkuk 2:3-4 (also quoted by St Paul in Rom 1:17; Gal 3:11), announces the coming liberation of the people of Israel. The sacred text accurately prophesied that those Jews who remained faithful to God would be released from captivity in Babylon and survive the experience. Moved by the Holy Spirit, the present writer states that the ancient prophecy has been fulfilled in Christ; he is "the coming one", that is, he will come a second time. Therefore, the Christian should await the outcome of persecution loyally and cheerfully. "Stand your ground like an anvil under the hammer. The mark of a true champion is to stand up to punishment and still come out victorious. It is our duty, particularly when the cause is God's, to accept trials of all kinds, if we ourselves are to be accepted by him" (St Ignatius of Antioch, "Letter to Polycarp", III, 1).
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From: Mark 4:26-34
Parables of the Seed and of the Mustard Seed
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[26] And He (Jesus) said, "The Kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground, [27] and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he knows not how. [28] The earth produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. [29] But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest is come."
[30] And He said, "With what can we compare the Kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? [31] It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; [32] yet when it is sownit grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade."
The End of the Parables Discourse
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[33] With many such parables He spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; [34] He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to His own disciples He explained everything.
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Commentary:
26-29. Farmers spare no effort to prepare the ground for the sowing; but once the grain is sown there is nothing more they can do until the harvest; the grain develops by itself. Our Lord uses this comparison to describe the inner strength that causes the Kingdom of God on earth to grow up to the day of harvest (cf. Joel 3: 13 and Revelation 14:15), that is, the day of the Last Judgment.
Jesus is telling His disciples about the Church: the preaching of the Gospel, the generously sown seed, will unfailingly yield its fruit, independently of who sows or who reaps: it is God who gives the growth (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:5-9). It will all happen "he knows not how", without men being fully aware of it.
The Kingdom of God also refers to the action of grace in each soul: God silently works a transformation in us, whether we sleep or watch, causing resolutions to take shape in our soul--resolutions to be faithful, to surrender ourselves, to respond to grace--until we reach "mature manhood" (cf. Ephesians 4:13). Even though it is necessary for man to make this effort, the real initiative lies with God, "because it is the Holy Spirit who, with His inspirations, gives a supernatural tone to our thoughts, desires and actions. It is He who leads us to receive Christ's teaching and to assimilate it in a profound way. It is He who gives us the light by which we perceive our personal calling and the strength to carry out all that God expects of us. If we are docile to the Holy Spirit, the image of Christ will be found more and more fully in us, and we will be brought closer every day to God the Father. 'For whoever are led by the Spirit of God, they are the children of God' (Romans 8:14)" (St. J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 135).
30-32. The main meaning of this parable has to do with the contrast between the great and the small. The seed of the Kingdom of God on earth is something very tiny to begin with (Luke 12:32; Acts 1:15); but it will grow to be a big tree. Thus we see how the small initial group of disciples grows in the early years of the Church (cf Acts 2:47; 6:7; 12:24), and spreads down the centuries and becomes a great multitude "which no man could number" (Revelation 7:9). This mysterious growth which our Lord refers to also occurs in each soul: "the Kingdom of God is in the midst of you" (Luke 17:21); we can see a prediction of this in the words of Psalm 92:12: "The righteous grow like a cedar in Lebanon." To allow the mercy of God to exalt us, to make us grow, we must make ourselves small, humble (Ezekiel 17:22-24; Luke 18:9-14).
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Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and by Scepter Publishers in the United States. We encourage readers to purchase The Navarre Bible for personal study. See Scepter Publishers for details.
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