Pentecost 5 A: The Sower and the Soil

Dear Partner in Preaching,

I have to confess I’ve always had a certain bias against this parable. Actually, not the parable as much as the interpretation. You probably know the generally accepted theory of the history of composition behind today’s passage. Since Joachim Jeremias published his seminal The Parables of Jesus, biblical scholars have pointed out the shift in emphasis from the parable proper and its explanation nine verses later.

The parable is all about the extravagance of the sower, the farmer foolish enough to throw seed anywhere and everywhere, even on paths and patches of stony ground. The explanation, however, shifts attention to the soil, offering an allegory between different kinds of soil and different hearers. Sermons have often followed the explanation, inviting us, in the words of the catchy hymn, to let our hearts be good soil. And that’s what I’ve become biased against: moralistic sermons imploring us to be better Christians based on what is considered an addition by Matthew (and before him, Mark) to Jesus’ original parable to encourage disciples struggling in the faith.

Lately, however, I’ve been paying more attention to the narrative context of the parable – always a good thing to do! – and have realized two things. First, Matthew is at a point in his story where he needs to explain why not all are following Jesus. Since delivering the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus announced God’s coming kingdom and described the characteristics of true discipleship, Jesus has been preaching and teaching and healing and doing all kinds of other things that demonstrate the coming kingdom and invite people into discipleship faith. Yet while the crowds swarm after him, bringing their hurts and hopes alike, not all follow. Indeed, increasingly Jesus meets resistance, especially among the religious leaders of the day, and he is even accused of drawing his power from the prince of demons.

And then comes a parable that describes something quite similar – seed of the kingdom being spread lavishly but not all taking root. Why? Because not who receive the seed are the same. Some have a hard time understanding the kingdom logic Jesus has proclaimed, and it’s as if before the seed even has time to take root it’s been snatched away. Some believe easily at first but then find the life of a disciple too difficult and give up when any challenges confront them. Some want to believe but are too weighed down by “worldly” cares to follow. Only a few, it turns out, understand enough, believe enough, sacrifice enough, and persevere enough to stay the course and yield fruit. And there you have it – a fair explanation of why, even at this point in the story, there are so few true disciples.

But you know what – and this is the second thing I realized – verses eighteen to twenty-three not only explain the parable but also shed light on life in the church today as well. I mean, here’s the thing: most of us have gotten used to diminished gatherings on Sunday morning. Moreover, we know that, while a generation ago people who described themselves as “regular attenders” meant they made it to church at least three out of four Sundays a month, when people use that term today they’re talking about coming to church once every four or five weeks. We’re used to that. We don’t like it, even bemoan it from time to time, but we’re used to it.

But did it ever occur to us that now as then, there are lots of things that get in the way of being a disciple. Whether it’s multiple commitments, or kids’ sporting events on the weekend, or no sense of Sabbath in our culture, or that more and more people have to work on Sunday, or the great distances among family members that mean more weekend travel, or any number of other things, there are tons of things that pull our people away from church.

And so I’ve wondered, maybe the point of Jesus’ parable and explanation wasn’t so much to exhort people to be good soil but to remind them that even when things look grim and few seem to follow, still the ridiculously foolish sower keeps tossing seed out anywhere and everywhere and some of it will stick, take root, grown, and eventually yield a harvest one hundred times the initial investment.

So here’s what I’m wondering about, Dear Partner, might we use this week’s gospel reading to recognize that our people are pulled in all kinds of directions and sometimes have good reason for not being in church? Might we acknowledge that we, like those who followed Jesus centuries ago, at times have difficulty understanding, or following, or sacrificing, as we know we should?

Trust me, I don’t want to do this in an effort to judge our folks, let alone shame them into admitting that they are good-for-nothing rocky soil. Rather, I want us to admit that life is busy and complex and that most of us come to Sunday a little bit ragged at the edges. Yet still we gather, because we have Jesus’ promise not to give up on any of us, but to keep throwing the seed of the kingdom and word of God on all of us alike. And when we can’t make it – when work or family or other commitments keep us from worship – perhaps we can know and trust that those who are there are praying for us, holding us in their thoughts and prayers that we might flourish wherever we are.

If this possibility makes you nervous, I’m with you. After all, we may fear that this sounds like we’re giving up, throwing in the towel, blessing the more frequent absences of our people. But I don’t see it that way. Rather, I think this parable really is all about the sower, the one who refuses to give up, the one who will not discriminate between rocky and shallow and good soil but throws the word generously on all. But I also think it’s also about us, different kinds of people with different obligations, challenges, and commitments, and no amount of scolding folks or making them feel bad for missing worship is going to help. But telling them that Jesus is still sowing, still seeking, still eager for them – for all of us! – to know of his profound love…that might just make a difference.

So thank you, Dear Partner, for your part in continuing to sow the abundant seed of God through our faithful proclamation. Your words, too, will fall on all kinds of soil and not always bear fruit, but some will take root, yielding thirty, sixty, even a hundred fold return that delights the Lord of the harvest. Thank you. Even more, thank God for you.

Yours in Christ,
David

 

Post image: Pieter Bruegel the Elder, “Landscape with the Parable of the Sower,” 1557.