Hi everyone. Welcome back to another podcast for the logical Bible study. And in this podcast,

we take a look at the gospel reading from today's Mass.

And we want to look at what was Jesus and the gospel authors trying to communicate to the original audience. So that's called the literal sense of the text.

And as Catholics, we always need to start with that literal sense.

Before we try and work out any deeper meanings, what was Jesus trying to communicate

to his audience. If you go to Mass today, you'll hear from Mark chapter 4 versus 21 to 25.

So here's the reading. Jesus said to the crowd, would you bring in a lamp to put it under a tub or under the bed?

Surely you will put it on the lampstand.

For there is nothing hidden, but it must be disclosed.

Nothing keeps secret except to be brought to light.

If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to this. He also said to them, take notice

of what you are hearing. The amount you measure out is the amount you will be given. And more

besides, for the man who has will be given more, from man who has not even what he has will be taken away

so a shorter reading today and jesus has two small parables here so we're in mark chapter four

and we're continuing this section of parables here.

So this whole sort of chapter 4 and the surrounding parts have quite a few parables in them.

Now something to notice, a couple of things to notice up front about these particular parables.

So in the lectionary at the very start of the reading, verse 21, the

lectionary, which I just read to you, says this, Jesus said to the crowd. That can be a bit

misleading. I think the lectionary has sort of phrased it that way so we know what's going on. But the

actual text of verse 21 in Mark actually just says this,

Jesus said to them. So we don't actually know who Jesus is talking to here. If it's continuing

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