Jesus never suggests a proper response to this parable.
One can read all three synoptic versions of this parable and still come away wondering. (Mt. 13:1-23; Lk 8:4-15) Jesus just seems to state the facts. People respond to the gospel in one of four ways:1. with indifference;
2. with short lived enthusiasm;
3. with half-hearted allegiance choked
by distraction and worry;
4. with full surrender that produces
surprising amounts of fruit.
We read the parable and, like the disciples, begin asking what it means. Yet, that question actually wonders,
"What do we do with this information?"
Do we encourage each other to break-up the worn paths and try to make them fertile gardens? Do we stress and strain to sink our roots deeper so we will endure the heat of persecution? Do we weed our hearts and seek counsel for removing worry and lust? Do we check our fruit production as a sign of whether we are good soil or not?
Or do we assume Jesus is teaching us to be liberal sowers, not concerning ourselves with the harvest only the planting? Do we settle on this parable as some sort of Biblical support for predestination and God's sovereignty?
Or perhaps, Jesus exercises great wisdom by opening our hearts to these and many more questions with one simple farming story.
Enjoy your Lent reflection. Share your thoughts.
1 comment:
Azalee Tatum March 2 responding to March 1.
Ron your obversations are quite inspiring. You wrote:
1. with indifference;
2. with short lived enthusiasm;
3. with half-hearted allegiance choked
by distraction and worry;
4. with full surrender that produces
surprising amounts of fruit.
In reviewing your thoughts and reading the verses againit came to mind that we have gone through these stages to reach the full surrender.
The NIV notes write that we hear with our ears, but there is a deeper king of listening with our mind and heart that is necessary to gain spiritual understanding of Jesus' words. Some people in the crowd were looking for evidence to use against Jesus; others truly wanted to learn and grow. Jesus' words were for the honest seekers.
So many of us have read the scriptures to prove that someone else has a wrong concept. I have mostly read the scriptures that are related to finding joy in adversity. Sometimes I miss the deeper meaning. May the bless us as congregation to grow in grace and knowledge of the scriptures and accepting each other in their personal walk with God.
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