We hear this story of the sower and we might think – well, why didn’t the sower just put all the seeds in the good soil to start with? Why waste all that effort and the seeds? Why wasn’t the sower more CAREFUL with resources? Why does the church waste so much effort on people who are not going to change? Why does God love sinners who will NOT repent?
When we think that way, when our first instinct is to criticize the sower, to condemn – we miss the point of the story. Jesus’ focus in this story is on the fruit that grows from the seeds. The seed that falls on to the good soil bears fruit – lots and lots of fruit. The other seeds may not bear fruit. But at least in the case of the seeds eaten by the birds, the seed still serves a purpose. It feeds the birds of the air and some assertive squirrels. The seed nourishes them, even if it doesn’t bear fruit.
Perhaps a bird will drop a seed somewhere onto good soil, and it will take root and grow and bear fruit somewhere unexpected, far from its original planting. The whole creation can help in bearing fruit.
Matthew encourages us to imagine fruitful discipleship through several different points of view. First, the sower. Some people think Jesus is the sower, and some imagine you and I as the sower. The sower spreads the good news. The sower tells about Jesus and God’s love. The sower doesn’t take pH tests to see if the soil is good. The sower doesn’t know if the ground is too hard, if the soil is deep or shallow. The sower doesn’t know which seeds the weeds will choke as they grow. And we don’t know, either. Planting seeds in our church – or sowing – is what we are called to do. We do not control the outcome. We cannot force someone to attend worship. It is our purpose as sowers to sow. To tend. Not to control or dominate.
Matthew’s second point is considering the four kinds of soil: hard, shallow, thorny, and good. In order for seeds to reach their potential, the soil must be ready. If you look at that analogy as a follower of Jesus, it means fruitful discipleship can occur when our hearts are ready and able to be good soil.
Ready to hear AND receive God’s word is part of the soil. Going through the motions of attending church and not really allowing God’s word to sink in because our minds wander might be a good example of our soil NOT being ready for the seed to bear fruit. In his reflection on this passage, theologian Gary Peluso-Verdend explains that “in order for disciples to grow, they must understand, attend properly, and persevere.”1 If we don’t take the time to
1 1 Bartlett, David L., and Barbara Brown Taylor. “Homiletical Perspective by Gary Peluso-Verdend.” Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary. Louisville (Ky.): Westminster John Knox, 2011. N. page 236. Print.
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understand, our seed may not implant. These are the times we feel drained, burned out, blaming others. Luther might say that it’s the opportune time for the devil to get busy.
As we take time to understand God’s word and each other, the rocky ground opens and our seed enters in. The tiredness turns into purpose, and we realize a new feeling of worth. A new need to get going, to move into a state of action. That moment when you’re casually walking across the street, and a car speeds around the corner. You wake up and you act…you walk quickly out of the way.
Matthew tries to impart this kind of understanding. Once the seed is planted, you need to walk faster towards knowledge and faith in the potential of every seed.
Matthew also reminds us that understanding isn’t quite enough. Disciples will always encounter evil in our midst. The remains of 4 murdered young men were found this week, as a result of a drug sale turned deadly. Even good soil is threatened by the evil that lurks. Matthew reminds us that persevering and being attentive must be part of our growth as disciples.
We are easily lured by our wants. Easily led astray by anger and resentment, by pride and envy. We yearn for financial comfort, and our anxieties are fed by futile attempts at keeping up with the Joneses. This is what it looks like when the weed chokes the seed growing into fruit.
Controlling the seed is not ours to manage. Sowing the seed. The sower reaches into the seed bag, grabs a handful of seeds, and scatters them without much concern for the soil.
Because it’s God’s soil to tend. The soil where our faith implants and grows. What kind of soil is helping your faith life grow? Rocky, thorny, shallow…or good? And what does it look like when we cast away our worries and fears and doubts…and let God make it into good soil?
Soil that is open to new understandings of God’s love for us. The sower, understanding that God’s love can grow in us in our fertile times of joy and plenty.
And God’s love can reach us in those dry times, the times when we feel distant from God’s love. Sowing seeds in our hearts, regardless of whether we are “good enough” soil, or not.
Even when we don’t see the growth right away, Matthew tries to tell us today that God is spreading the seed extravagantly to us, for us, and in us. Tossing out love and acceptance like seeds to the barren ground , knowing that sometime, somewhere, this amazing love of God will take root in our hearts and will bear forth fruit – 30, 60 and 100 fold.
Today’s text in Matthew begs us to believe, understand, and persevere. To open our hearts to the seed of God’s word. Whatever soil we face in life, God is there to help us not only grow, but thrive.
Amen.