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LINK TO SCRIPTURE READINGS
That same day, Jesus went out of the house and sat by
the sea. Such a large crowd gathered around him
that he got into a boat and sat down, while the whole
crowd stood along the shore. Then, he spoke to them at length in parables, saying:
“A sower went out to sow, and as he sowed, some seed
fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell
on rocky ground, where the soil was shallow. The seed sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose, it was scorched and withered for lack of roots.
Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up
and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil and
produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.
Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
Matt 13:1-23
In Jesus' Parable of the Sower, hungry birds, rocky ground, and invasive thorns are all saboteurs: the birds devour the seed, the rocky ground fails to nurture, and the thorns choke the emerging plants. While we might blame the birds, the rocky ground, and the thorns for wasting the seed, Jesus' explanation of the parable takes us in a different direction: the seed is God's Word, and the real saboteurs happen to be human. The first saboteurs—the seed eaten by the birds—lack understanding. They have no comprehension of the precious gift of God's Kingdom and so fail to cherish it. Their lack of commitment and indifference inevitably lead to a loss of faith. The saboteurs represented by the seed that falls on rocky ground are initially enthusiastic, but their faith is shallow. These are the "fair-weather" believers who abandon their faith at the first sign of tribulation or persecution. And then there are those who hear and understand but fail to bear fruit because they have been lured away by worldly anxiety and the desire for riches.
In contrast, there are those who hear, understand, and bear fruit. Their secret is "rich soil" which protects them from drifting into disbelief, abandoning the faith, and being seduced by the glamor of evil. Unlike the disbelieving crowds, the disciples have seen, heard, and understood; Jesus, in fact, assures them that they have received "knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" (Matt 13:11).
The lectionary offers two versions of the Parable of the Sower. The long version (Matt 13:1-23) and the shorter text (Matt 13:1-9). While the shorter version focuses on the type of ground needed for discipleship, the longer version invites us to reflect on our response to God's Word. Are we indifferent, temporarily enthusiastic, or easily distracted? Or have we responded fully and passionately to the Sower, who, as the Gospel acclamation points out, is none other than Christ himself? Luke's version of the parable explains that the seed in rich soil stands for those who hear the Word and "embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance" (Lk 8:15). They are the ones who will remain faithful despite hungry birds, rocky ground, and murderous thorns.
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QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
- What type of soil defines YOUR faith?
- What have been the greatest challenges to your faith?
- How are you bearing fruit, spiritually speaking?
- In what way is Creation groaning in labor pains? (Romans 8:22)
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RESOURCES
Spiritual Self-Assessment:
https://assess.coach/eastewart/
Ministry Team Assessment: https://assess.coach/embracingpossibility
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