Planting Seeds

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” (Matthew 13:1-9)

Today is Plant A Flower Day. Although, if you're in Wisconsin, it may be a good idea to plant it inside for now. But another way to celebrate today is to remember we, as God's faithful, are sowers of another, more vital seed: that of God's word. Jesus explains the above parable in verses 19-23:

When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.  But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Now, when you and I sow God's word, we don't know what the soil looks like. We may not know the work the Spirit is doing in the heart of the one to whom we're speaking. But God asks us, nevertheless, to sow. Sometimes, we are prompted be direct about it: to come right out and talk to somebody about the love of God. But even with our lives, we sow. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 7:16, followers and false prophets alike are known by their fruit. This is a theme repeated throughout the New Testament, in fact. 

We are sowers, and the seed we scatter comes in many varieties. We can't know, always, the condition of the soil -- the hearts of the ones we reach. What we have to do is be certain of what we sow. Is it
love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness? Is it the word of Hope, and the Gospel of Christ?

If so, don't be discouraged! We won't reach everyone we want to reach right away, in the way we want to reach them. But in the hearts of some, there will be understanding. And where there is understanding, there is a crop -- a yield of many times what was sown.

It's our job to scatter the seed -- let God work with the soil.

NOTE: On another day, we'll talk about what happens next: the cultivation of a good crop. In faith, as in farming, scattering the seed is step one.