In today’s Gospel Jesus once again instructs the crowds with a parable, a parable about a sower and the seed. But this parable raises as many questions as it seems to answer. One such question might be: who sows costly seeds among the weeds and the thorns, and why?
The good farmer, the successful farmer, sows seeds on good rich soil that has been prepared, fertilized and tilled and yields a rich and abundant harvest! So why does Jesus tell the parable of a farmer who scatters seeds on bad soil, indiscriminately throwing them among the weeds and the thorns and the rocky soil…why sow it in these places? What is his point?
Parables are meant to get us thinking…just when we think we understand the point of the story, upon further reflection, another layer is revealed. I like to compare parables to finely cut and polished gemstones. As we mull over a parable and turn it around in our minds, we discover more and more facets of the gemstone…of the story that, at first glance, may not have been so obvious. That is the amazing quality of a parable.
In this parable, some interpret the sower as God and the indiscriminate sowing of the seeds as an example of God’s all- inclusive love for all peoples. They understand the seed sown is “the Word” offered to everyone, regardless of whether or not they will accept it and allow it to grow within them. Perhaps God sees possibilities of growth and abundant harvest amongst the thorns and rocky soil that we cannot even yet imagine!
It seems to me that “the Word” being sown is “the Word of Justice” sown in the thorns and rocky ground of racism and bigotry. And “the Word” is crying out for racial justice in the midst of unjust structures that systematically favor one race over another…white privilege. And God’s “Word” will take root and grow, as we have seen it do in the hundreds of thousands who marched during the Black Lives Matter protests across this country and around the globe…pointing out systemic racism around the world. For Isaiah told us that God said, “so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.” That “end” is justice and equality for all God’s children!
What is the “thorny and rocky” soil of our nation and our world today? I would say, our current administration’s blatant disregard for the wellbeing and care of the most vulnerable of our sisters and brothers…sadly more than disregard, a clear disdain, and active mistreatment with intent to harm! And more than just a refusal to welcome the stranger, as Jesus commanded, a clear desire and demonstrable glee, in uprooting the lives of immigrants and their families, and in some instances seeking to destroy their futures by deporting them to foreign countries, where they have no family, no hope of a future…only pain, loss and ruin.
Those who see this as just or even acceptable cannot call themselves Christian or in anyway followers of Jesus Christ or People of The Book! For it is clear that the God of Who lead the people out of Egypt commanded them that they must welcome the foreigner/the stranger in their midst, and Jesus commanded his followers that they must do the same, and that in the final judgement, they will be judged on whether or not they did so! It has never been a suggestion; it has always been the way in which God has called us to live with one another on the earth.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to measure our words and actions to make sure that they measure up to the standards that Jesus set forth in the Gospel. And as disciples we are called to work for justice, equality, and peace in the world. That means, working, voting, and speaking out on behalf of issues that deny people justice, equality and peace…and we all know what that looks like! Christian Nationalism is NOT Christian, it is racism and bigotry wrapped up in a fake, mistranslated and seriously distorted version of Christianity.
We know what discrimination, inequality and denial of justice looks like, so there is no excuse to not speak up and do our true Christian duty, one rooted in the words and call of Jesus Christ, a call clearly stated in Matthew 25, (Matt. 25: 31-46)!
As we continue to reflect on this Gospel this week, let us ask ourselves: what are the “thorny or rocky ground” parts of my life where the seeds of the Gospel could yield a more abundant harvest? Where in the world is the rocky soil on which God has sown seed from which is springing new growth at this moment that both surprises and delights me? Where am I being called “to tend to the Word” that needs to be cultivated and nurtured in the thorny and rocky round of the world around me?
Blessings,
Fr Tim
The good farmer, the successful farmer, sows seeds on good rich soil that has been prepared, fertilized and tilled and yields a rich and abundant harvest! So why does Jesus tell the parable of a farmer who scatters seeds on bad soil, indiscriminately throwing them among the weeds and the thorns and the rocky soil…why sow it in these places? What is his point?
Parables are meant to get us thinking…just when we think we understand the point of the story, upon further reflection, another layer is revealed. I like to compare parables to finely cut and polished gemstones. As we mull over a parable and turn it around in our minds, we discover more and more facets of the gemstone…of the story that, at first glance, may not have been so obvious. That is the amazing quality of a parable.
In this parable, some interpret the sower as God and the indiscriminate sowing of the seeds as an example of God’s all- inclusive love for all peoples. They understand the seed sown is “the Word” offered to everyone, regardless of whether or not they will accept it and allow it to grow within them. Perhaps God sees possibilities of growth and abundant harvest amongst the thorns and rocky soil that we cannot even yet imagine!
It seems to me that “the Word” being sown is “the Word of Justice” sown in the thorns and rocky ground of racism and bigotry. And “the Word” is crying out for racial justice in the midst of unjust structures that systematically favor one race over another…white privilege. And God’s “Word” will take root and grow, as we have seen it do in the hundreds of thousands who marched during the Black Lives Matter protests across this country and around the globe…pointing out systemic racism around the world. For Isaiah told us that God said, “so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.” That “end” is justice and equality for all God’s children!
What is the “thorny and rocky” soil of our nation and our world today? I would say, our current administration’s blatant disregard for the wellbeing and care of the most vulnerable of our sisters and brothers…sadly more than disregard, a clear disdain, and active mistreatment with intent to harm! And more than just a refusal to welcome the stranger, as Jesus commanded, a clear desire and demonstrable glee, in uprooting the lives of immigrants and their families, and in some instances seeking to destroy their futures by deporting them to foreign countries, where they have no family, no hope of a future…only pain, loss and ruin.
Those who see this as just or even acceptable cannot call themselves Christian or in anyway followers of Jesus Christ or People of The Book! For it is clear that the God of Who lead the people out of Egypt commanded them that they must welcome the foreigner/the stranger in their midst, and Jesus commanded his followers that they must do the same, and that in the final judgement, they will be judged on whether or not they did so! It has never been a suggestion; it has always been the way in which God has called us to live with one another on the earth.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to measure our words and actions to make sure that they measure up to the standards that Jesus set forth in the Gospel. And as disciples we are called to work for justice, equality, and peace in the world. That means, working, voting, and speaking out on behalf of issues that deny people justice, equality and peace…and we all know what that looks like! Christian Nationalism is NOT Christian, it is racism and bigotry wrapped up in a fake, mistranslated and seriously distorted version of Christianity.
We know what discrimination, inequality and denial of justice looks like, so there is no excuse to not speak up and do our true Christian duty, one rooted in the words and call of Jesus Christ, a call clearly stated in Matthew 25, (Matt. 25: 31-46)!
As we continue to reflect on this Gospel this week, let us ask ourselves: what are the “thorny or rocky ground” parts of my life where the seeds of the Gospel could yield a more abundant harvest? Where in the world is the rocky soil on which God has sown seed from which is springing new growth at this moment that both surprises and delights me? Where am I being called “to tend to the Word” that needs to be cultivated and nurtured in the thorny and rocky round of the world around me?
Blessings,
Fr Tim
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