The Gospel according to St. Mark
Chapter
4
¹ Again he began to teach beside the sea. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the sea there, while the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land.
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verse 1)
Oh God, my Father, this is the place that I want You to occupy in my life, centre stage where I can hear You loud and clear without any interruptions. Amen, You are able to control the forces of the sea and of the land all is under Your control Amen.
² He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them:
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verse 2)
Oh God my Father, many times You speak to me in parables in order to help me understand the message that You are trying to pass on to me, however in my limitations as a human I do not always get the message. I pray that You do not give up on me, but keep on trying to help me understand Amen. Thank You my God and teacher. Amen.
³"Listen! A sower went out to sow.
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verse 3)
Brothers and sisters, this is the most common illness of our time, We do not want to listen. We are exposed to so many voices that we are becoming selective to whom we are to listen. I pray that we take off our headphones and listen to You Amen. Every day of our lives You come to sow the living seed of Your love in us however we do not always accept it Amen.
⁴ And as he sowed, some fell on the path and the birds came and ate it up.
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verse 4)
Oh God many times You wish to sow Your Word in our hearts, however, the worries and anxieties of this world swoop upon us and rob us of internal peace Amen
⁵ Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. ⁶ And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no roots, it withered away.
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verses 5 to 6)
Oh God my Father at times we may receive Your Word, however, if our spiritual roots have never been strong, we might only have childhood beliefs. We might be spiritually immature. Therefore when we are exposed to complex concepts such as forgiveness we might show enthusiasm however after some time we might feel discouraged. I pray that we remain in constant communication with Your Word and with the blessed sacraments Amen so that our roots remain fertilized Amen.
⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain.
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verse 7)
Oh God, many times we would like to accept Your Word however the stressors and worries of this world create doubts which gradually choke our faith into a state of unbelief. I pray that You will keep on giving me the motivation to pray and benefit from Your Word Amen.
⁸ Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold." ⁹ And he said, "Let anyone with ears to hear listen!"
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verses 8 to 9)
Oh brothers and sisters in God and His Son Jesus Christ. May we be not happy with one experience of God in our life! May we answer this calling every day of our life. Every day may we ask God what He wants of us today so that His calling will continue to grow and develop in us so that we may produce much fruit. May we not be happy that we helped one person today but aim to be of more and more help to others Amen.
¹⁰ When he was alone, those who were around him along with the twelve asked him about the parables. ¹¹ And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables, ¹² in 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."
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verses 10 to 12)
Oh God, my Father, I thank You for having given me the understanding of Your Word and for the gift of such messages that You give me during such moments of prayer. I thank You for opening my mind to reflect on Your Word. I pray for the ability to put in practice every single word that You pass on to me for I am still a weak and sinful person Amen.
¹³ And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables?
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verse 13)
Today You are gently confronting us oh Jesus, about our not understanding the basic issues of our live, which might be straightforward. You want us to be prepared for when more complex issues and dilemmas happen in our lives. You know my God and Father, that it is only with the Knowledge of Your Holy Spirit that we can face and solve the dilemmas of life Amen.
¹⁴ The sower sows the word. ¹⁵ These 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.
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verses 14 to 15)
Oh God my Father I pray for protection against this evil spirit that hinders us from receiving Your Word by creating many obstacles and interruptions Amen.
¹⁶ And these are the ones sown on rocky ground, when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. ¹⁷ But 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.
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verses 16 to 17)
Oh God my Father I pray for people who are in this stage of their spiritual journey towards heaven. They would really wish to obey and follow You, but there is always a "But" in their lives that is conditioning them from doing so. This may be anything that is worldly that acts as a barrier from living the spiritual life Amen. I pray for healing Amen.
¹⁶ And others are those sown among the thorns; these are the ones who hear the word, ¹⁹ but the cares of the world, and the lure for wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing.
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verses 18 to 19)
Oh God, my Father, I pray that You free us from all anxiety and hesitation in our decision to live according to Your ways. Help us to eliminate all the hurdles in our way so that there will be no "buts" to slow us down and create obstacles Amen.
²⁰ And 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."
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verse 20)
Oh God, my Father even though I am a sinner I wish to be a person who bears good fruit when my time comes to appear before You. I do not wish to waste this time on earth as a human Amen.
²¹ He said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand?
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verse 21)
Oh God, my Father verse 21 makes me ask myself if my faith is being manifested in the wrong places, incorrectly or maybe even none at all. I pray that You give me the ability, capacity and opportunity to proclaim You in places where I can be a searchlight of faith for others so that many others may experience You in their life and be saved Amen.
²² For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. ²³ Let anyone with ears to hear listen!"
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verse 22)
Oh God my Father, when You decide that the time is right You will bring to light all that has been done in secret. You will expose to light our transgressions and the great accuser will be placed on trial once and for all Amen.
²³ Let anyone with ears to hear listen!"
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verse 23)
Oh God my Father I pray that we all open our hearts and minds to listen instead of judging and blaming and negatively criticising You and others Amen. I pray that we make space for You in our hearts Amen. Thank You, Jesus.
²⁴ And he said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you.
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verse 24)
Oh, brothers and sisters if we preach negativity in our interactions with others, we will receive the same form of feedback, however, if we spread good faith and positivity it will also come back to our ways and the grace and mercy of God will be with us Amen.
²⁵ For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing even what they have will be taken away."
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verse 25)
Oh God my Father, I praise and bless You for the values, faith and skills that You have given me not only for my own benefit but more for the good and benefit of others. I pray that You continue to enrich me with such blessings Amen.
²⁶ He also said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, ²⁷ and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how.
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verses 26 to 27)
Oh God my Father with Your help I am posting one chapter after another and all go online meeting different people in different circumstances. I pray that Your Word leaves the desired positive fruit Amen.
²⁸ The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. ²⁹ But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come."
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verse 28)
Oh God, my Father, the growth of the grain is like the growth of faith. There is a process of plantation and there is a stage of harvest. I pray that when my time comes for reaping You find much good fruit Amen.
²⁹ But when the grain is ripe at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verse 29)
Oh God my Father is this the time when the grain is ripe? Is this the time of the great harvest? Many people are dying because of this virus, Is this Your hand at work? Thank You Jesus.
³⁰ He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it?
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verse 30)
Oh God, my Father, our intelligence is not always able to understand concepts that are not of this world. I thank You for choosing parables in order to help us improve our level of understanding. Amen.
³¹ It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth ³² yet when it is sown it 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 Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verse 31 to 32)
Oh God my Father I pray that You transform me into a strong and healthy branch where others find spiritual comfort and make an experience of You Amen.
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 except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verses 33 to 34)
Oh God, my Father, I thank You for speaking to us by means of parables, for many times our brains are not tuned on the same wavelength and therefore we fail to grasp the message. However on the other hand, I praise and thank You for such moments of reflection in prayer for during such moments You personally describe Your Word to me so that not only I can understand its meaning but I can also share it with others Amen.
³⁵ On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side."
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verse 35)
Oh God, my Father this day could be any day when You personally ask us to change our plans, our lifestyles as You did to me when You called me Amen. You allow us to venture into the other side of our lives that is still unknown to us. Amen.
³⁶ And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him.
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verse 36)
Oh God, how important it is to take You at Your Word, to obey and listen and act on what You want us to do without any buts and ifs Amen.
³⁷ A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. ³⁸ But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verses 37 to 38)
Many times oh God my Father, we ask You the same question. Oh God You do not care that we are passing through this separation, divorce, financial crisis, illness is this nothing of concern for You?
However, God our Father who is in control of all that happens in our lives looks at us smiling and says
"Do not be afraid for I have sent this crisis and I can stop it, nothing is beyond my control just believe in me and have faith!"
³⁹ He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. ⁴⁰ He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" ⁴¹ And they were filled with great awe and said to one another; "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
(The Gospel according to St. Mark Chapter 4 verses 39 to 41)
Oh, brothers and sisters today our God and Father is asking us the same question.
"Why all this panic about the Coronavirus?, I am with You I am in control I have the power to stop this virus and bring it to an end, Trust me!
Oh God, my loving Father even though we have witnessed Your love and power many times in our life we still experience doubt. I pray that You heal us in this great weakness Amen.
Oh, brothers and sisters, God my beloved Father, I would like to end this meditation on the fourth chapter of the Gospel of St. Mark with the following prayer:-
Oh God my Father, the waves are beating on my ship and it is leaking from all sides, I pray that You take control of the situations of many who are presently experiencing pain and tribulation. Rise up I beg You and command the negative elements such as this virus to disappear forever in Your Mighty Name Amen, however, may Your will be done and not mine Amen.
