Matthew 13, 1-23
Seeds on a path, seeds on rocks, seeds in the midst of weeds, seeds in good soil.
Jesus told the crowds many things in parables, stories from life situations or nature. The parable then, would leave the listener with some questions about how you should understand and apply the story, hopefully motivating us into deeper thought and reflection. We need to allow a parable to sit in our minds and hearts and bring us the sense that there is more here than we first think!
For many of us, like me, the image of sowing seeds may be limited to planting a small home garden. Still, I don't think that its too hard to imagine a person planting seeds on the four different types of soil: seeds on a path, seeds on rocks, seeds in the midst of weeds, seeds in good soil.
What is clear in the gospel, but not really spelled out, is that we have a choice. Each one of us here has been singled out, blest, to hear the Christian message. But, how do you prepare your life, what are the choices you need to make to prepare for those seeds of faith to be planted? You see, the amazing thing about this gospel is that God's grace, God's love is everywhere and grows everywhere.
But, what is this gospel saying to us today? I guess, what Jesus is saying is that “we are dirt!" Aaaah, but what kind of dirt? and what do we do with this "dirt?" or maybe "soil" would be a more acceptable term!
Seeds on a path, seeds on rocks, seeds in the midst of weeds, seeds in good soil.
Is your life, like the kind of soil that makes up a path? Do you hear the Gospel without really understanding it? What do you do in your life to deepen your understanding of your faith? Do you take the time to pray? read the Scriptures? Study the Scriptures? Or do you show up here weekly and hope like heck that the birds won't eat the seeds of faith planted in you?
Is your life, like the kind of soil that is filled with rocks? Do you hear the message of the Gospel, come up here to church, get excited and then by the time you hit the gate to the monastery on the way home, the message is forgotten, or dead? What do you do to nurture the Word that we've received, the Bread that we have shared? Do you share the faith you have received? How little we love the gospel if we keep it to ourselves.
Is your life, like the kind of soil that is infested with weeds? Do you acknowledge sinfulness in your life and the need for forgiveness and renewal? Do you see those aspects of your life that prevent the message of Jesus from taking deep root? In your prayer, do you do some daily weeding so that the seeds of faith can really grow and take root?
Is your life, like the kind of soil that is good, rich, dark and fertile? You see, the gospel today is not one that consoles us, makes us feel good, it challenges us. The life of God is always in us, either growing, or dying. There is no holding pattern. And eventually, we become what we choose.
The Eucharist reminds us that God's life will grow in our lives if we give it time and space. We gather here not as disciples who "have it made,” but as women and men and children open to God's action in our lives and ready to make whatever changes may be needed. God will support us. Far from forcing us to do something we do not want to do, God's grace enhances our freedom and enables us to accomplish our deepest desire: to bring forth "a yield of a hundred- or sixty- or thirty-fold."
Seeds on a path, seeds on rocks, seeds in the midst of weeds, seed in good soil. The choice is ours. The seed of faith is in you. Will you allow it to grow?
Seeds on a path, seeds on rocks, seeds in the midst of weeds, seeds in good soil.
Jesus told the crowds many things in parables, stories from life situations or nature. The parable then, would leave the listener with some questions about how you should understand and apply the story, hopefully motivating us into deeper thought and reflection. We need to allow a parable to sit in our minds and hearts and bring us the sense that there is more here than we first think!
For many of us, like me, the image of sowing seeds may be limited to planting a small home garden. Still, I don't think that its too hard to imagine a person planting seeds on the four different types of soil: seeds on a path, seeds on rocks, seeds in the midst of weeds, seeds in good soil.
What is clear in the gospel, but not really spelled out, is that we have a choice. Each one of us here has been singled out, blest, to hear the Christian message. But, how do you prepare your life, what are the choices you need to make to prepare for those seeds of faith to be planted? You see, the amazing thing about this gospel is that God's grace, God's love is everywhere and grows everywhere.
But, what is this gospel saying to us today? I guess, what Jesus is saying is that “we are dirt!" Aaaah, but what kind of dirt? and what do we do with this "dirt?" or maybe "soil" would be a more acceptable term!
Seeds on a path, seeds on rocks, seeds in the midst of weeds, seeds in good soil.
Is your life, like the kind of soil that makes up a path? Do you hear the Gospel without really understanding it? What do you do in your life to deepen your understanding of your faith? Do you take the time to pray? read the Scriptures? Study the Scriptures? Or do you show up here weekly and hope like heck that the birds won't eat the seeds of faith planted in you?
Is your life, like the kind of soil that is filled with rocks? Do you hear the message of the Gospel, come up here to church, get excited and then by the time you hit the gate to the monastery on the way home, the message is forgotten, or dead? What do you do to nurture the Word that we've received, the Bread that we have shared? Do you share the faith you have received? How little we love the gospel if we keep it to ourselves.
Is your life, like the kind of soil that is infested with weeds? Do you acknowledge sinfulness in your life and the need for forgiveness and renewal? Do you see those aspects of your life that prevent the message of Jesus from taking deep root? In your prayer, do you do some daily weeding so that the seeds of faith can really grow and take root?
Is your life, like the kind of soil that is good, rich, dark and fertile? You see, the gospel today is not one that consoles us, makes us feel good, it challenges us. The life of God is always in us, either growing, or dying. There is no holding pattern. And eventually, we become what we choose.
The Eucharist reminds us that God's life will grow in our lives if we give it time and space. We gather here not as disciples who "have it made,” but as women and men and children open to God's action in our lives and ready to make whatever changes may be needed. God will support us. Far from forcing us to do something we do not want to do, God's grace enhances our freedom and enables us to accomplish our deepest desire: to bring forth "a yield of a hundred- or sixty- or thirty-fold."
Seeds on a path, seeds on rocks, seeds in the midst of weeds, seed in good soil. The choice is ours. The seed of faith is in you. Will you allow it to grow?
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