The Interpretation of Scripture ... By Jesus Himself!

We sometimes struggle to properly interpret the Word of God in Sacred Scripture.  To discover a passage in which Jesus Himself explains something is rather extraordinary.  Yet, that is what we find in the Gospel of St. Mark, Chapter 4.

Here is the passsage, and Jesus is speaking.  "Hear this!  A sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and the birds came and ate it up.  Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil.  It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.  And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots.  Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain.  And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit.  It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."  And, as if for emphasis, he said this:  "Whoever has ears ought to hear."  (Mark 4:3-9).

After the disciples expressed their lack of understanding, he interprets for them.  (Mark 4:14-20).  The seed represents the Word of God.  The birds represent Satan.  The path represents people who have access to the Word of God.  Satan acts so that the people do not hear the Word of God and so it has no chance to grow and be nurtured.  The rocky ground represents people who  receive the Word of God with "with joy," but do not take it to heart.  As soon as "tribulation and persecution" come, they "fall away."  The thorns represent secular or earthly distractions, such as "worldly anxiety, the lure of riches," and other cravings that people allow to take over their lives causing them to ignore the Word of God.  But the rich soil represents people who hear the Word of God and fully accept it such that they produce extraordinarily good works and grow in faith and holiness.

Jesus began his interpretation by saying "Whoever has ears ought to hear."  (Mark 4:9).  This sounds like he wants the message to be in bold print and underlined!  So let's summarize.  We should pay close attention to, diligently study, and properly interpret the Word of God.  We should avoid serious sin and not give in to the word of Satan, meaning not give in to any temptation to sin.  We should allow the Word of God to "take root" in our lives and we should force ourselves to act accordingly.  If problems arise, such as the persecutors from the secular world attacking us, or serious calamities and accidents disabling us, we should allow the Word of God to strengthen us.  And, finally, we should not allow the lure of riches or sexual and other cravings to ruin us.

And what as far as properly interpreting the Word of God?  The Catholic Church is the Church Jesus founded.  Let us look to it for proper interpretation.  Some will not want to do this.  If you are one of them, I suggest you take on a full study of  Catholicism, such as in a RCIA class in your local parish.  The bottom line is that God wants a world filled with faithful and holy people.  Let us do our level best to accommodate him.  Amen!