NOTES for Mar 4:21-25

Today the Lord addresses to us one of the most important questions: “How do we listen?” We regularly read the Bible and even visit Bible websites on the Internet, but do we have ears with which to receive the Word, let it take root in our hearts, and bear fruit? The Lord says, “The measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you who hear.” In essence, this means that a person will find in Scripture, and in God's revelation in general, what he wants to find there. The Bible can provide us with an abundance of material on history, literature, philology, mysticism, and so on, but only the one who seeks in it the knowledge of God—that is, a living personal relationship with Him built on trust and love—will be able to find God in the reading of Holy Scripture. Here the words “to those who have, more will be given” acquire their meaning. In hearing and understanding the Word of God, we can only deepen and multiply what we already possess; that is, we must approach it within an already existing relationship with God—in faith and prayer.