One of the features shared by all four gospels is that the amount of traditional materials that they had received from those who were the first preachers required some creative organization! These materials included various "sayings" of Jesus that were repeated but not always in the same context by the sources. The authors had to decide how to place these sayings in their own efforts to tell the story of Jesus. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke place the same sayings in different contexts! Today's gospel scripture features several "sayings" that fit into the overall character of the Gospel According to Mark. That character is a straightforward challenge to the reader to recognize who Jesus is and believe in him! By this time in this gospel, we know that Jesus' family and the Jewish authorities were rejecting him. The authorities were attributing his miracles to Beelzebub, the prince of demons! His family thought he was out of his mind! But Jesus was not about to be put under cover or keep his mission a secret. He warned his audience (and us, too) that "Anyone who has ears to hear, ought to hear!" In our modern parlance this is equivalent to saying, "LIsten up, people! This is important! "
The early spread of Christianity around the Roman Empire was due in no small part to the urgency the apostles and other first missionaries like St. Paul and his companions felt in their faith. They were driven by this faith to risk their lives. They had good news to bring to the world! We bear the same "lamp" that they brought! Where are we putting it? Would anyone with ears hear anything from us about Jesus? AMEN