To You Has Been Given the Secret of God’s Kingdom

This meditation is based on a passage for January 19, 2011 in the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).

Text: Mark 4:1-20

Reflection and Question: One of the first things I learned in seminary was how central the theme of secrecy is to the Gospel of Mark. Jesus puts it front and center here, quoting the conundrum at the center of Isaiah’s call to ministry as he explains the parable of the sower to the disciples. The disciples are in on the secret; others are taught in parables. While this has sometimes created two classes of believers — those in the know and those left out — the good thing is the gospel is available for all of us to get in on the secret. What is the secret of the kingdom of God?

Prayer: Jesus, our Teacher and Friend, You scatter the seed of Your word far and wide. May our hearts and minds be good soil. May we hear and accept Your word and then bear good fruit, yielding a hundredfold. Give us the ears to hear You. Amen.