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

 "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 yesterday's reading, Jesus had just finished telling a large crowd of people the Parable of the Sower.  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 whoever 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."   Here, Jesus gives us a complete explanation of the parable.  It was made to His disciples, as opposed to the crowds who stood on the shore and listened to Him preach, but it's in the Gospel, so that we can read it for ourselves.  What I find, as I have written about this parable through the years, is that each one of these steps can be each one of us at times.  We all deal with times when the word doesn't seem to have taken root at all.  Sometimes a word we receive with joy later becomes lost when difficulties arise!  The cares of this world can take their effect of choking the word out of us when we're overwhelmed, and affairs may have us in a panic.  If we stay stuck in any of these places, then we've failed to take hold of what is offered.  But the good news of the Kingdom isn't just about a one-time decision; it's on offer for those of us who reconsider, and take back that path He sets us on, challenged and turning back to the right road.  We will all deal with these conditions.  What really matters is the depth of our faith, our ability to turn back again, and make the decision in our hearts that this is the right way -- this struggle is worth all of it.  That's the good ground that shows through, over the long run of a lifetime.  Repentance, in this light, becomes our greatest gift.  Jesus delineates very carefully the things that can trip us up, where we might lose our place.  But it's a way to let us know that all these things will come, so that we're prepared for them.  Life isn't going to be just "smooth sailing" because we grasp this word and take hold of it.  He wants followers who can weather the storms and stick with it, returning to the path, His Way.  We are in it for the "long haul."  As Christians, we don't just give up.  The good news is that His word will sustain us through it all.   It's the experience of faith, through time, that helps us to see "more" in His teachings.  When we're challenged beyond what we know to deal with in life, it's prayer and help from faith that can keep us going and get us through difficult situations.  Others can pray for us and help, and calling on the resources of Church in all its forms can have an extraordinary effect on our resilience and resourcefulness.  That would include praying with saints, calling on pastors and fellow worshipers, and asking for prayers in services.  A lifetime of difficulties in an imperfect world becomes occasion for God's grace, God's help, and opportunity for God's glory shining through our challenges.  He is with us, His word is with us, and our faith is much more than our own effort alone.  Let us remember our Refuge and Strength, a very present help in times of trouble.  Scripture also tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength.