We come now to the Sunday of the "great omission." Lectionary Cycle B skips over the first 25 verses of Mark 4: the Parable of the Sower. In chapter 12 we have given consideration to this parable at some length. Many interpreters see this parable as one of the keys for interpreting Mark's Gospel in its overall, narrative sense. We must find room in our preaching on Mark's Gospel to include the Parable of the Sower. This might be the Sunday for such inclusion.

It is not only the Parable of the Sower that has been omitted. Mark 4:21-25 has also been omitted. We commented on the theme of these verses in chapter 12. In his words to the disciples Jesus had said some things about who will hear and believe that are difficult to grasp. The Twelve, the insiders, can know the secrets of the kingdom…