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"Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
- Matthew 13:18-23
In Tuesday's reading, Jesus taught the crowds the parable of the Sower. See He who has ears to hear, let him hear! Yesterday, we read that the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whosoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.' But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."
"Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." Today's reading is fairly self-explanatory! Indeed, it's Christ's explanation to His disciples of the parable of the Sower. But I think if we look carefully, we might find (as I do, anyway) that each of these things Jesus describes are things we may deal with in our own lives. Do we understand everything that is taught? Clearly there is always mystery -- even for the disciples. We may be tempted to receive the word with joy, only to be disappointed when life presents us with troubles. Tribulation and persecution are difficulties for anyone. The cares of the world, and "deceitfulness of riches" -- a sore temptation -- are long-term problems that are all too common all around us and in our lives. But to receive seed on the good ground, to hear the word and understand it, and to bear fruit and produce is to endure and to grow in faith. In a sense, Jesus seems to promise that all these things will be present, but the good soil of a good heart is one in which the seed can take root and grow. Are we drawn in by His teachings and His word? Do we want to listen more? Do we want to grow in relationship to Him? All of these things draw us forward. In my opinion, there is none of us who will not be tempted by the things He names here. But the key is endurance. If we really are to understand, to put things together (as the Greek word here for understand literally implies), then through all things we seek Him. A rootedness is an image that gives us an idea that as we grow outwardly, we also grow inwardly. The roots of the plant must grow as deep (or deeper) than whatever the plant produces. So it is with us. How deep do the roots go? The inner life gives strength to the outer. Remember it is the rootedness of the seed that gives life to the whole plant, and nourishment to the fruit for good productivity. How does His word take root in your heart -- to see you through tribulations and persecutions, when things don't go right, when the deceit of riches may disappoint and the cares of the world drag on in our daily lives? There is a rootedness on which we depend, a kind of growth in the heart, upon which everything rests, especially our understanding of His word. Prayer is a key to strengthening our internal roots, to shoring up that relationship, drawing upon His nurturing and strength. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
