Notes for a sermon on Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, July 16, 2023, Holy Trinity (Strathcona), Edmonton
The Gospel readings for today and next Sunday are taken from Chapter 13 of Matthew, sometimes referred to as “The Parabolic Discourse.” This doesn’t mean it’s about parabolas, but rather about parables. Same Greek root, different but related concepts – but you’re not here for a lecture on etymology, are you?
The Discourse comprises seven parables, most with an agricultural theme, plus explanations for the two we are hearing. These are the only parables for which Jesus gives explanations, and then only privately to his disciples. The rest of his listeners get that somewhat maddening exhortation: “Let anyone with ears listen!” In other words, some will understand, and others (maybe most?) will go away puzzled.
It seems that the disciples were among those who were puzzled. Otherwise, why would they ask Jesus for explanations? And why those two parables?
The answer to the first question (the desire for explanations) lies in the nature of parables. Some parables are very short and to the point, while others are longer stories, like the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son. Most parables use imagery from daily life, making them accessible to the hearers. What sets them apart from ordinary stories is that they usually have a twist, something unexpected in the telling, that opens the door to seeing reality in a new way. The standard reaction to this kind of story is “But what does it mean?” and Jesus’ response doesn’t help. Another notable feature of parables is that they are typically capable of different interpretations – in other words, there’s no “right answer.”
In today’s parable, the Sower, the image is of a farmer sowing seed, seemingly almost at random, not looking carefully at where he tosses it. The seed falls in various places, with various results. The seeds that fell on the path or on rocky ground or among thorns were wasted, bearing no fruit for the harvest. Only the seeds that fell on good soil brought forth grain. Sowing seed is a normal activity, but is it normal to strew the seed around quite so carelessly? Why not take care to make sure that the seed falls where it will do some good? Some have called this parable “The Wasteful Farmer,” which may say something about the disciples’ puzzlement. No-one stays in business long with such a careless attitude. This suggests a possible answer to the second question I posed: why these two parables? Perhaps because they seemed particularly troubling to them as compared to some of the others, and perhaps because Jesus wanted to point to some aspects of discipleship.
The explanation Jesus gives to them suggests to me two things to take from the parable:
First, the disciples are being trained to spread the Good News, the Word of God. They need to understand that picking and choosing with whom they share the Word is not their task. Rather, they are to share the Word with everyone, knowing that not all will bear fruit as they might wish.
That lesson still stands today. Spread the Word to everyone and let those with ears hear! God will take care of the rest.
Second, the disciples themselves are the soil upon which the seed is sowed. Jesus no doubt wished that they all might be good soil, bearing fruit a hundredfold, or sixty, or thirty. But Jesus also knew that they all had cares and worries and difficulties in their lives, and at various times they would be the path, the rocky ground, or the thorn-infested soil. The message: aim to be good fertile soil, understanding that your own lives can sometimes provide less than perfect growing conditions.
That lesson also still stands. No-one is a perfect disciple all the time. Things happen which make it hard to hear God’s Word, difficult to thrive, sometimes impossible to bear much fruit. That’s just the nature of ordinary human life. Strive to bear fruit, knowing that you will fail at times. Our Baptismal Covenant makes that clear, referring to “when you fall into sin,” not “if you fall into sin.” God will use us as we are able – and God is always there, welcoming us back again and again.
I found a piece on the internet this past week called “Rules for Doing Theology.” With a little tweaking, it could easily be re-titled “Rules for Being a Disciple.” The last rule needs no tweaking: “Make a mess. Fail. Try again. Grow in grace. Repent and forgive.” As a friend once said, the Gospel is like playing baseball, except you get to keep swinging until you hit a home run.
And here’s one more way of reading this parable, which played an important role in my early formation as a priest. I had never paid the Sower close attention until one day about a year and a half into my time in my first charge, when it turned up as the Gospel for the day in the Daily Office Lectionary. Life was getting a bit difficult, as some parishioners were expressing disappointment that the church wasn’t growing much, if at all. They believed that having their own priest after 20 years of being half of a shared ministry would result in the parish suddenly blossoming to look something like it did in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s. “We thought the Sunday School would be full again, like it was back then,” was one of the things I heard. In other words, they saw it as my responsibility to make the church grow. And I fell into the trap of beating myself up for not fulfilling their expectations.
When I read this parable that day, it suddenly dawned on me: if I put myself into the role of the Sower, I could see that my job was to spread the seed – to proclaim the Good News by word and example – and it was up to God to make the seed grow and bear fruit. Reflecting on both the Baptismal Covenant and the vows of ordination has shown me how important this distinction can be.
Friends, we are called to be the Sower, the Seed, and the Soil, remembering that people have different roles at various times, as Paul said in I Corinthians 3.6:
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
We are called to sow the seed freely, not choosing where but letting God deal with the seed wherever it may fall, giving thanks that growing the seed is not up to us alone. God will give the growth, and God will give fruit in due season.
We are called to seek to be fertile soil for the seed to grow. God the Holy Spirit will open our hearts and minds.
Finally, we are called to be the seed itself: to be and to bear the Word of God in person for others, seeking to let the Good News be visible in all that we say and do.
May it be so!
Into the blue... 