Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsMark 4
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read Mark 4 in the BibleMark 4:27
And sleep.
The Church, and Christ's doctrine, (sleep we, wake we) increaseth by the great providence of God. only the preachers must sow, and plant, and water, and ◦ God will give the increase, nourishing the seed in men's hearts. And therefore we may not give over, or be impatient and solicitous, if we have not always good success: but doing our duty, commit the rest to God.
- ◦ 1. Cor. 3.
Mark 4:31
Mustard seed.
◦ If the Church and Truth had more and more decayed and been obscured after the Apostles' time unto ours, as the Heretics hold: then had it been great in the beginning, and small afterward: where this Parable saith contrary, that it was a mustard seed first, and afterward a great tree. vide Chrys. to. 5. contra Gentiles in vita S. Babylæ Mart.
- ◦ The Church visibly increasing.
Mark 4:32
The birds.
◦ Of all sects or doctrine, Christ's religion at the beginning was the smallest, and most contemptible: but the success thereof far passed all man's doctrine: in so much that afterward all the wisest and greatest of the world made their residence and rest therein.
- ◦ Christian religion wonderfully spreading.
Original Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
Mark 4:12
Lest they should be converted.
[1] These speeches here and elsewhere, we must not so understand as though he spake in parables of purpose and to this end, that the hearers might not understand, lest they should be converted: which were as much to say as that he would not have them understand, nor be converted: but we must learn the true sense of this very place in S. Matthew [2] and in the Acts [3], where our Saviour and S. Paul speak thus, They have heard heavily, and have shut their eyes, lest perhaps they may see, and understand, and be converted, and I heal them. Whereby it is evident, that the speaking in parables was not the cause (for many beside the Apostles heard and understood) but themselves would not hear, and understand, and be converted: and so were the cause of their own willful and obstinate infidelity. And therefore also he spake in parables, because they were not worthy to understand, as the other to whom he expounded them.