Embracing the Word

I’ve started a series on the parables to slide us into summer. I had forgotten how much they can pack a punch of insight, often in a few short verses and sometimes in longer stories. Like the mustard seed, what seems small and insignificant can grow to something big that shelters birds and other creatures.

We began with the parable of the sower and the scattering of seed hoping that some of it would find good soil. It has always raised many questions for me. Why scatter recklessly knowing that most will be wasted? What is the value in tossing seed on rocks and hard-packed paths and among thorns? Why not just pull out the thorns and rocks and solve the problem in the first place? A one in four chance of success isn’t that promising or seemingly effective. Especially if we think of the farmer as God or Jesus, why plan to fail?

However, if we look at this and recognize that we’re the ones represented here and the four possible results are dependent on us, the kaleidoscope shifts. It moves from waste to undeterred vision, recklessness to grace, carelessness to care. Because we have free will, who knows what we will ultimately choose and how receptive and soft our soil will be on a given day? Who knows how long it will take for us to acknowledge our rocks and thorns? Who knows how quickly we will change and overcome obstacles to faith? Perhaps God knows all this already because God is God, or perhaps God waits to be surprised by us.

God sows in belief that defies logic. God sows unsure of the resulting harvest but with a good idea of what could happen if we embrace the goodness and potential in those precious seeds of the Word. God sows again and again, knowing that the conditions of the soil can change with time and experience. God is persistent and gentle, not coming with a spade or pitchfork, frustrated with the obstacles to acceptance and growth. God knows that even a small move towards faith can eventually lead to greater depth down the road.

God may seem distant and separated from the process. In reality, God is very present, watching and waiting, hoping that we will choose to embrace those seeds and wrestle with the words of scripture, which can be baffling and at times divisive and challenging while still being a source of guidance and life. God knows what can result when we allow those words to be planted deep within us and to take root. God is patient.

Of course, reading the story it’s clear that we want to be that good soil. We should want to bring about the kingdom of heaven and produce wonderful fruit. No one wants to be pecked at by birds or choked by greed and cares of the world or shriveled up or shallow. None of those are things to which we should aspire, and yet if we’re honest sometimes that’s just where we are. We’re easily pulled down by circumstances and societal pressure. It takes continuous effort to keep that soil tilled and rich, soft and full of nutrients.

And so the sower sows again and again. And the sower waits, full of grace, loving us despite our inability to commit to consistently caring for the soil of our hearts. And as we are able to embrace the Word we wait too to see just what God will do with and through us to bring about the kingdom of heaven. We don’t know how but God’s plans will come to fruition and we will be amazed. A mustard seed indeed.