Lectionary 15 Proper 10, Year A July 12, 2020
Grace Lutheran Church, Lakeland, FL
Genesis 25:19-24 Psalm 119:105-112 Romans 8:1-11 Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
Today our Gospel reading is one of the most familiar of Jesus’ parables – surpassed perhaps by that which we call “The Prodigal Son.” Parables have been described as “gifts” that Jesus gives us that we have to unwrap and open to receive what the gift truly is, the meanings to be found beyond the images of the parable itself.
In trying to understand what the parable is telling us we must careful about a few things. First, we must be careful of concluding that “this” stands for or means “that”, that is, that the parable is an allegory where every element figuratively means something else easily translatable. Instead, we might try to enter into the parable and understand it from that very different perspective, chew on it tasting for some different things, listening for some new chords to be strummed.
Second, we need to do this particularly when there is a parable as familiar to us as this one may be. Moving away from the assumptions we have about it, we might gain some new under-standings that speak a fresh word into our lives today.
The major character in this parable is the sower – in fact, Jesus even refers to this as the parable of the “Sower.” Yet, one commentator has suggested that an apt title for this parable might the “The Prodigal Sower.” The word prodigal – which we commonly use in reference to another very familiar parable – means “lavish” or “extravagant.” And indeed this sower is lavish and extravagant. Some might even say reckless.
The sower is generous in the sowing of the seed. Rather than placing seed in a neat row tilled just so, this sower casts the seed widely so that it falls on all sorts of ground. Some of the seed failed to produce, some was eaten but some germinated, grew, and resulted in a harvest – a tremendous harvest beyond even wildest expectations.
What then does this mean? With some parables we are left to puzzle it out, to tease out some meaning and understanding. We’ll have some of those in the coming weeks. And with other parables, Jesus himself may offer an explanation. That is the case here – Jesus likens us to the seed. For some who hear the Word, there is no root and it may shrivel or it may be snatched away by the cares of this world. But when sown on “good soil,” the seed germinates, grows, and bears abundant fruit. And so we pray, “Lord let my heart be good soil.”
But, even when Jesus offers an explanation, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t other gems to be discovered when we open the gift of the parable. Consider that the harvest came about from silent hidden mysterious work in the seed resulting in its germination and growth. And that’s how it is with the kingdom of God. Seed is lavishly sown, things happen that we can’t always see, and a harvest results. Because of this prodigal sower, there is good soil that nourishes this growing seed and an abundance results. We may remember times like this in our lives – moments when we keenly felt the Spirit at work in our lives. Times when we were “on our game” so to speak.
But this is not to say that there aren’t parched times – times when our spirits feel dry and shriveled and very much in need of water and nourishment. In these times, the Sower is a Shepherd and that our Shepherd leads us beside still waters and sets a table for us. We are grateful for the provision and the restoration.
And I rather think that there is another gift we can discover in this parable. Because of the loving care of the Shepherd, because of the lavishness of God’s grace poured out for us, we too are scattered for the sake of the world. We become carriers of this grace to those around us, those who are dry, those who are consumed by the cares and worries of this world, those who are treading on rocky ground. We are sown among such as these.
During this time – life in the time of Covid-19 – during this time, we may wonder how it is that we are being used by God for the sake of the world. We may wonder how it can be that the Church can continue sowing seeds in the midst of “shelter in place” and keep a physical distance from others. Over these months that we have worshiped remotely in our homes rather than in our sanctuary, we have been seed sown for the sake of Rez House in Dade City – a ministry of care for the migrant community, for farm workers, for families with young ones and elders. And this seed was sown abundantly.
And we have been seed for Volunteers in Service to the Elderly. Food was gathered for the frail and poor seniors of our community. Grocery bags and boxes overflowing with tangible signs of our love and care for them – a reflection and demonstration of God’s love and care for them.
It is challenging these days to be a community of faith when our typical routine, our regular activities have been so drastically altered. From these challenges, in the good soil of these challenges, seeds are germinating and sprouting. That quiet mysterious work of the way of faith and love. We are touching each member of Grace multiple times during the week through email or US Mail with Bible Studies, common worship services, meditations and reflections. We share Evening Prayer on Thursdays through a live stream that reaches beyond our community of faith to people we may not even know. We are developing online fellowship times using technology that is new to us.
And, because the challenge of these times is not likely to abate in the near future, our leaders are planning and considering what changes and additions may be needed as we move forward. New seeds, abundant sowing, and the promise of a harvest – an abundant harvest from seeds cast far and wide, seeds sown, and seeds that are barely sprouting – yet.
This goes on throughout God’s church across time and place. We are joined with God’s children of the generations that came before us and those that will follow. A miraculous communion of saints loved by God, saved by Jesus. Seed cast forth abundantly and lavishly to carry God’s love into the world. By virtue of the Holy Spirit at work in and among and through us, we join into the rhythm and growth and cultivation and harvest – all part of God’s wonderful garden.
Thanks be to God.
