Do You Get It?

Do you remember, back in chapter 4, when Jesus explained to the disciples the parable of the sower, he ended with the cryptic comment “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, “‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’” (Mk 4:11-13, quoting Isaiah 6:9-11). He went on to ask: “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?"

There are two parts to seeing. I may be out with an experienced birder who asks me "Do you see that bird?" Yes, I see it. But what the birder sees, and I don't, is that that bird is a rare visitor to this part of Canada. I just see a duck. The birder sees more than that.

Jesus' parables are an invitation to see, to really see. To see through the evidence of my senses to the meaning that lies behind it. To see the significance of that meaning.

But it's not just his parables. His actions, too, invite "real seeing". As Mark tells the story, Jesus' last words before today's reading were “Do you still not understand?” He is not asking if they had understood a parable, he is asking if they understood his actions.

Everything he has done since chapter 4 invites us to "really see," to see and perceive, to hear and understand. Maybe what he said then makes more sense now.

Otherwise, we are as confused as the man who saw people looking like trees, walking around.

Respond in Prayer

Lord Jesus, I am often blind to your work in my life. Forgive me. Touch me and open my eyes. Amen.

Glenn Smith