He who has ears, let him hear!

 

 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.  And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.  Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying:  "Behold, a sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.  Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because had no depth of earth.  But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.  But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop:  some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  He who has ears, let him hear!"

 

- Matthew 13:1-9 

 

In yesterday's reading, Jesus continued speaking with the scribes and Pharisees who demanded a sign from Him.  He said,  "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.  Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.'  And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.  Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.  So shall it also be with this wicked generation."  While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.  Then one said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You."   But He answered and said to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?"  And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."

 

 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.  And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.  Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying:  "Behold, a sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.  Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because had no depth of earth.  But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.  But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop:  some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  He who has ears, let him hear!"  My study Bible comments here that, in the Old Testament, metaphors of sowing and harvesting are common (Psalm 126:5; Jeremiah 31:27-30; Hosea 2:21-23; Joel 3:12-14), because this was part of daily life.  These are things with which all people were familiar.  Here, Jesus is revealing Himself as the promised Messiah, who is the sower in the earth, the One foretold in Isaiah 55:10-13.

 

Here is a turning point in Christ's ministry, and we can see that it comes as He now speaks to great multitudes.   What is the direction of this "turning point?"  It's quite interesting that He begins speaking in parables.  That is, He's telling a story about His story, about His ministry, but it's up to those who hear to understand and receive what they can from this story, this parable.  Jesus says, "He who has ears, let him hear!" echoing warnings known to the people from the Old Testament prophets (Isaiah 6:9-10; Ezekiel 3:27; Jeremiah 5:21; Deuteronomy 29:4).  If we follow closely the events of Christ's ministry, Jesus has just been responding to a demand from the scribes and Pharisees that He produce a miracle on demand, in order to prove His identity.  They have demanded a "sign" from Him (see Saturday's reading).  Before that, they accused Him of casting out demons (performing exorcism) by the power of the ruler of the demons (see Friday's reading).  So, after Jesus condemned this request, saying, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks  after a sign and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah," and claiming that others who come from outside Israel will rise in judgment against them, Jesus has responded not with trying to appease these religious rulers who now seek to destroy Him, but by doing the opposite.  He now expands His ministry to the great multitudes who come to listen, and He does so not through explicit signs or even teachings, but through the introduction of preaching in parables.  It is perhaps hint, in hindsight, that Christ already senses that His message, His gospel of the Kingdom, will be taken to peoples far and wide, and not simply to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  Parables are described as "word-pictures" by my study Bible, stories which reveal spiritual truth.  But they do this in a way that is hidden, not obvious.  The Hebrew and Aramaic words for parable also mean "allegory," "riddle," or "proverb," my study Bible says.  So, in listening to parables, people must be receptive to the hidden truths or mysteries that are revealed in them, in order to perceive what Christ is offering.  Hence, His command, "He who has ears, let him hear!"  Christ's seemingly paradoxical response to the demand for a sign by the scribes and Pharisees comes to us as an affirmation of our own need to truly desire what He offers, for He is not simply in the world to compel anyone to love Him, but to put out a call of love and faith, seeking those who can hear and respond.  We are used to being spoon-fed truths, so to speak, through platforms and international media.  But in a world of constantly competing information vying for our attention, Jesus still calls.  He remains the Sower, sowing the seeds of His gospel, and longs for those who will respond, and produce the fruits of the good harvest He desires. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience

 

 Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.  And the twelve were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities -- Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.

 

And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable:  "A sower went out to sow his seed.  And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.  Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture.  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.  But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold."  When He had said these things He cried, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

 

Then His disciples asked Him, saying, "What does this parable mean?"  And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries  of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that

'Seeing they may not see,

 And hearing they may not understand.'

"Now the parable is this:  The seed is the word of God.   Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.  But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in a time of temptation fall away.  Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.  But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience."

 

- Luke 8:1–15 

 

Yesterday we read that one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him.  And He went to the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat.  And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.  Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, "This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner."  And Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you."  So he said, "Teacher, say it."  There was a certain creditor who had two debtors.  One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both.  Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him more?"  Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more."  And He said to him, "You have rightly judged."  Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman?  I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.  You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.  You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.  Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much.  But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."  Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."  And those who sat at table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"  Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you.  Go in peace."

 

  Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.  And the twelve were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities -- Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.  My study Bible comments that these women were faithful to Christ to the end (Luke 23:49, 55), and they were the first to receive and to proclaim the news of His Resurrection (Luke 24:1-10).  In Scriptures, it notes, the number seven often symbolizes totality and completeness, indicating that Mary called Magdalene had been thoroughly given over to darkness before her healing. 

And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable:  "A sower went out to sow his seed.  And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.  Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture.  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.  But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold."  When He had said these things He cried, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"  As the crowds around Jesus have grown extremely large (a great multitude), and many people now come to hear Him speak, He initiates His speaking style in parables with this first one, the parable of the Sower. 

Then His disciples asked Him, saying, "What does this parable mean?"  And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries  of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that 'Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'"  My study Bible comments here that mysteries are not obscure intellectual concepts, but the presence of the Kingdom of God which cannot be defined.  A person's unwillingness to understand Christ's parables is due to a rejection of His Kingdom.   My study Bible quotes St. John Chrysostom here:  "If the blindness were natural, it would have been proper for God to open their eyes; but because it was a voluntary and self-chosen blindness, He does not overthrow their free will."  To do so would have been not only to "no advantage for them, but an even greater condemnation."  Jesus refers to the words of Isaiah (Isaiah 6:9-10).

 

 "Now the parable is this:  The seed is the word of God.   Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.  But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in a time of temptation fall away.  Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.  But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience."  Here Jesus explains the parable to His disciples.  My study Bible comments that, as the sower in the parable, Christ fulfills the prophecy in Isaiah 55:10-13.  It asks us to note that while some might teach that a person is permanently saved at the moment one professes faith -- a view which was never held by the historic Church -- the teaching of Christ is clear in the explanation of the parable that it's possible for one to believe for a while and then fall away.  

My study Bible describes parables as stories in word-pictures, which reveal spiritual truth.  In Hebrew and Aramaic, it says, the words for parable also mean "allegory," "riddle," or "proverb."  They express a constant which persists even today in the Near and Middle East, the seeming paradox of mysteries or riddles that tell us truths which are elusive and not always obvious to our minds.  Parables are also poetical, in the sense that they give us metaphors to think about, ways to conceive of ourselves in our world and before God.  Although their images are drawn from every day life to reach all, they communicate the deep things of God.  But, as my study Bible indicates, and Jesus says Himself in today's reading, the truth communicated in Christ's parables is not evident to all who hear.  Thus, midst these crowds, He's seeking those who can respond.  The parable of the Sower illustrates various levels of acceptance of such truths and the working of faith.  They indicate whether or not we have persistence, or whether difficulties can put us off this pursuit of faith.  The parable expresses the joy with which someone may receive the gospel, only to turn away at a later date.  It also teaches us that not everyone immediately accepts or grasps Christ's truths, and the word (or seed) of God.  The parable of the Sower teaches us what it is to persist in the struggle for our faith, just as St. Paul tells us that we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (see Philippians 2:11-13).  Clearly the "action" of the parable is dynamic, meaning that this central drama of faith is one that persists throughout our lives, and is not meant merely for a moment's decision.  We're all capable of doubt, of struggle with temptation and with hardship, and like St. Peter (for one example in the Gospels), we're capable of failure and return.  There will be times when we struggle to accept what God is trying to teach us, and times when we grasp it with joy.  Today's reading begins with the illustration of the women, who in their own example give us an image of what the parable teaches.  Even Mary Magdalene, who will be the first to see the resurrected Christ, and carry the word to the apostles (as her title, Apostle to the Apostles, indicates), is one who had been fully immersed in darkness, as the text tells us, given over to "the other side," as we might say.  We can imagine their persistence in faith, as they remained true to Christ throughout His ministry, His Crucifixion and death, and in the early Church.  Let us endeavor to be like the women, pursuing our salvation, keeping His word, struggling through temptation and hardship, even tribulation.  For keeping His word produces a value beyond the cares, riches, and pleasures of life with which we may imagine Mary Magdalene herself struggled, and overcame to produce fruit far beyond a hundredfold -- even to inspire us today.  In these women we see those who heard the word with a noble and good heart, kept it, and bore fruit with patience through all things.

 

 

 

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire

 

 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"  For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

    "The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

    'Prepare the way of the LORD;

    Make His paths straight.'"

Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.  Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.'  For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.  And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees.  Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

 

- Matthew 3:1–12 

 

Yesterday we read that when the Magi had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."  When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."  Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.  Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:  "A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."  Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead."  Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.  But when he hard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there.  And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee.  And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

 

 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"  For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:  "The voice of one crying in the wilderness:  'Prepare the way of the LORD; make His paths straight.'"  My study Bible explains that the wilderness of Judea is the barren region which descends from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea.  This preparation for Christ's ministry begins with John the Baptist's call to repent.  Repentance, which accompanies faith, is a total about-face, my study Bible says.  The word in Greek (μετανοια/metanoia) literally means to change one's mind, or more generally, to turn around.  Repentance, my study Bible notes, is a radical change of one's spirit, mind, thought, and heart, a complete reorientation of the whole of one's life.  It is the necessary first step in the way of the LORD.   It is accompanied by the confession of sins and the act of baptism, which John initiates, and is meant to be followed by a life, as John indicates further on, bearing the fruits worthy of this change.   The Baptist quotes from Isaiah 40:3.

Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. John's ascetic life bears resemblance to Jewish sects such as the Essenes, who my study Bible explains lived in the wilderness and whose purpose was the prepare for the coming of the Kingdom of God.  His clothing is typical of a prophet (specifically Elijah; see 2 Kings 1:8).  In the early Church, the monastic movement began as patterned after John's way of life.  

Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.  My study Bible notes that the confession of sins is essential to baptism under both the Old Covenant and the New.  John's baptism, however, was a sign of repentance for the forgiveness of sins only.  It did not confer the power of total regeneration nor adoption as a child of God as does Christian baptism.  John alludes to this when he prophesies of the baptism of the Savior to come.

 

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?"  According to my study Bible, Sadducees were members of the high-priestly and landowning class who controlled the temple and the internal political affairs of the Jews.  They denied the resurrection of the dead and had no messianic hope beyond earthly life.  The Pharisees formed a lay religious movement which centered on the study of the Law, and also on strict observance of its regulations.  They believed in the resurrection of the dead and cherished a messianic hope, but they taught that righteousness is based on the strength of one's works according to the Law, and that the Messiah would be simply a glorious man.  John calls them brood of vipers, and this title is later used by Jesus (Matthew 12:34; 23:33).  This name for them is indicative of their deception and malice, and their being under the influence of Satan.

"Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance . . ."  My study Bible comments that repentance, confession, and baptism lead to fruits worthy of repentance.  That is, a way of life which is consistent with the Kingdom of God (see Galatians 5:22-25).  If a fruitful life does not follow, it notes, sacramental acts and spiritual discipline are useless.  So, therefore, in many icons of the Baptism of Christ, an ax is pictured chopping a fruitless tree, again alluded to by John (see verse 10). 

 

" . . .  and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.'  For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones."  This warning is a play on words in Hebrew:  from these stones (Hebrew 'ebanim) God can raise up children (Hebrew banim).  My study Bible comments that God will not admit fruitless children into His house, but adopts other children from the Gentiles.  

 

"And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees.  Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."  Continuing from his command, above, that they must bear fruits worthy of repentance, John the Baptist makes this statement.  Fire here, my study Bible says, refers to divine judgment (see Isaiah 33:11; 66:24; Ezekiel 38:22; 39:6; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9).  See also the reference to fire in the verse that follows.  

"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."  My study Bible comments that Christ baptizes in the fire of the Holy Spirit, the power and grace of God divinely poured out on all believers at baptism.  This fire is the same as the fire of judgment referred to above; the same power and the same Spirit both enlivens the faithful and "burns" the faithless.  In John's culture, my study Bible explains, a slave would carry the king's sandals.  Therefore John is declaring himself to be even lower than a slave of Jesus.  John's inability to carry Christ's sandal has another meaning, also, for to carry another's sandal once meant to take someone else's responsibility (Ruth 4:7).  Here it shows that John could not have carried the responsibility that Christ carries, and that the Law could not redeem the world as Christ has come to do.  

"His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."  Winnowing (in this case using a special fan for the purpose) is the act of separating the threshed grain from the chaff, and it is a metaphor here for divine judgment, which will separate good from evil.

John the Baptist comes preaching a baptism of repentance, but teaches that the One who is coming will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  Let us note that this is not a conditional statement.  That is, John does not preface this statement with, "If you choose to be baptized by the One to come."  This is a certain, affirmative statement, and the "you" is plural.  He addresses it to all of them, even to these Pharisees and Sadducees.  It is a positive statement made as an emphatic point of fact:   He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  This is an affirmation not simply of Christian baptism to come, a baptism of water and the Spirit.  This baptism is the baptism of judgment, to which John alludes many times in what he says in today's reading.  The first thing John indicates about the One who is coming is His power.  He says, "He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry."  That word, mightier, is important, for it indicates strength and power.  When John adds that he is not worthy to carry the sandals of this One who is to come, He is speaking of Christ's authority, which couples together with might to create a threatening kind of statement to these leaders whom John rather obviously addresses as corrupt.  This kind of baptism is one that will be universal, as the Holy Spirit will be at work in the world.  In John's Gospel, Jesus speaks at the Last Supper, telling the disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit:  "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged" (John 16:7-11).  It is in this context that the language of winnowing is used, the separation of the good wheat from the chaff.  It is in this context of judgment that the religious leaders are warned to bear fruits worthy of repentance, and that the ax is laid to the root of the trees, because every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  John is warning of the time that is to come which Christ's life and mission will usher in, for the One whose sandals he's not worthy to bear comes in the likeness of a Man, and without worldly power and might, but is also the Son who bears the authority of God.  So this prophetic warning to the Pharisees and Sadducees is one that will stand the test of time, and is meant in a way much more far-seeing than simply the immediate time of the beginning of Christ's public ministry.  It is meant for the era He would usher in, the time which continues now in which the Holy Spirit is still at work to "convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged."  It reminds us that prophecy works with a different sense of time than you or I understand on worldly terms, and that the universality of John's words works as a warning for us, too.  Moreover, we're to understand the fire of the Holy Spirit as one which both enlivens those who accept its energies and its work, and burns those who refuse it.  It's the fire Moses saw that did not consume the burning bush, out from which came the voice of the Lord (Exodus 3:1-6), and it's the fire John warns about in today's reading into which the dead wood and the chaff will be thrown to be consumed.  We still live in the time when the Holy Spirit is at work in the world preparing the time for the judgment to come at Christ's return.  Let us take this text not just as words meant for certain peoples at that time in the world, but also meant for us today.  

 

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

 

 "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 our recent readings, Jesus has begun preaching to the multitudes using parables.  The first parable He taught is the parable of the Sower (see Tuesday's reading).  In yesterday's reading, 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 in today's reading, we are given Christ's explanation to the disciples about the parable.  We see that the parable reflects the difficulties and struggles of the life of the Kingdom as it grows inside those who hear.  Each one of these scenaria, I find, can also reflect our own personal struggles at different times in our lives.  There are forces that are active against the word and its work of taking root and producing fruit in us.  A lack of comprehension can give way to the wicked one, so that what might have taken root is snatched away.  We need endurance, to cling to the word in times of adversity; Jesus cites tribulation or persecution as such times.  Clearly Jesus also speaks of the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches which can choke the word, stopping spiritual progress and fruitfulness.   Our obsessive dwelling on various sources of anxiety, or the delusions that wealth can produce in terms of the fulfillment of the soul are themes Jesus has preached on numerous times in the Gospels.  But the good ground is that which we may cultivate within ourselves as we learn endurance, to cling to the word through times of adversity and temptation both to lust for things we think we want or delude us with false promises, and to the anxieties produced by what we fear.  To bear fruit is the process of bearing our cross and enduring, to nurture and till the ground within through prayer and study, to give ourselves the peace of Christ with which we can fill our hearts even in fleeting moments so that the word may take root and grow unhindered.  These things take discipline and are open to all of us, for life is a process of growth and learning (the meaning of the Greek for disciple is "learner"), an opportunity not for luck but for the practice and cultivation of endurance and sticking to what is good, to the Good Shepherd who remains here for all of us who need His guidance.  As the One who teaches and leads, He is the Sower who plants the seeds He wants us to grow and nurture in ourselves so that we bear fruits into the world.  When we stumble in any of these scenaria Jesus lays out, we can always begin again, for this is also part of endurance and taking root, the road to the fruit He desires.  The Source of the seed is love, and it always calls us back.  If we are sincere, God's love never turns away.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

 And again He began to teach by the sea.  And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea.  Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:  "Listen!  Behold, a sower went out to sow.  And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.  Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.  But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.  And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.  But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced:  some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."  And He said to them, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.  And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that

'Seeing they may see and not perceive,
And hearing they may hear and not understand;
Lest they should turn,
And their sins be forgiven them.' "

And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable?  How then will you understand all the parables?  The sower sows the word.  And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown.  When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.  These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time.  Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.  Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit:  some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."

- Mark 4:1-20

Yesterday we read that after Jesus chose the Twelve, they went into a house.  Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.  But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind."  And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebub," and, "By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons."  So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables:  "How can Satan cast out Satan?  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.  And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end.  No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man.  And then he will plunder his house.  Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation" -- because they said, "He has an unclean spirit."  Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him.  And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You."  But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?"  And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."

 And again He began to teach by the sea.  And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea.  Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:  "Listen!  Behold, a sower went out to sow.  And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.  Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.  But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.  And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.  But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced:  some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."  And He said to them, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"   Here in Mark's Gospel, Jesus begins to preach in parables.  It is another sign of the spread of His fame, and that great crowds come to see Him for all kinds of reasons.  As in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, the parable of the Sower is the first He preaches.  Let us note His call, "He who has ears, let him hear!" indicating that those who will be drawn to find His message do so from an internal receptivity.

But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.  And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that 'Seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand;  Lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them.' "  Jesus quotes from Isaiah 6:9-10.   My study bible explains, citing the commentary of St. John Chrysostom, that Isaiah's prophecy doesn't mean God causes spiritual blindness in those who would otherwise be faithful.  Rather, this expression is a figure of speech common in Scripture which reveals that God gives people up to their own devices (as in Romans 1:24, 26).  He has blinded means that God permits a self-chosen blindness.  Isaiah foresaw that blindness; hence the prophecy.

And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable?  How then will you understand all the parables?  The sower sows the word.  And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown.  When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.  These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time.  Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.  Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit:  some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."   Christ reveals Himself to be the promised Messiah, the sower, foretold in Isaiah 55:1-13.

If we take a close look at this parable, we observe that each one of the stages of the seed, as told by Christ, is possible in each of our lives.  In fact, there may be times when we -- even the faithful -- experience each one of the things Christ warns about.  We each have this seed sown in us:  through Scripture, through Christ's Incarnation in the world, through our baptism, through the sacraments and ministries and worship in the Church.  The Holy Spirit is "everywhere present and filling all things," as an Orthodox prayer tells us.  In yesterday's reading, Jesus spoke about the one sin that would not be forgiven, that of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, against the work of God in the world.  But, as my study bible pointed out, following the commentary of St. John Chrysostom, this does not mean "never" -- repentance renders even that sin forgivable.  So it is with the conditions indicated in today's reading.  The word might be sown in our hearts and dragged away immediately because of the evil in the world, but this does not mean there won't come a time when we find the power of that word again for ourselves.  We might endure in the word only for a time, but upon later maturity in life, rediscover our need for what we have missed, and what might have helped us earlier.  We may struggle with our faith, and fall away when adversity presents itself.  But we'd do well to remember that even St. Peter stumbled, when he denied Christ three times while Jesus was on trial (Matthew 26:69-75).  But if we follow St. Peter's example, we repent and return for forgiveness, and continue our spiritual journey of faith with Christ.  The cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things ensnare and consume many people, and yet those same people may find the emptiness and betrayal of such false gods let them down, and then turn to Christ, and set their lives on a better and more sure footing for what ails us spiritually -- and to find what their souls really deeply need.  We should always remember that we are capable of turning to Christ, who turns no one away.  At this time of Lent, it is important to turn and consider Jesus' words about bearing fruit, and about our own responsibility for "spiritual hearing."  We turn now to this time for making room for God and the practices that increase our faith:  prayer and fasting, Lenten services, a time to remember how much we need God.  It is a good time to consider repentance, and turning back to God, for this is exactly what this time is for in the Church calendar, as we look toward Easter and Resurrection.  Let us remember these words and His seed are always here for us; there is no time like right now to start to listen and hear -- and be healed.

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

 Yesterday we read that, after Jesus taught the parable of the Sower to the multitudes, 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."  The text here gives us Jesus' explanation to His disciples of the parable of the Sower (which we read in Tuesday's reading):  For the sake of convenience, here is Jesus' telling of the parable:  "Behold, a sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.  Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up and because they had no depth of earth.  But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.  But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop:  some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

Jesus' parable of the Sower really gives us emphasis on what happens internally with faith.  His word is the seeds that are sown; the rest of the parable is about reception, and what happens in our lives with that seed that is His word and teaching.  We note the interplay of the sower and the "wicked one."  The sower sows an idea, a teaching, a word (and He is the Word).  The parable gives us an idea of what happens to that word.  It falls upon those who don't comprehend it, and immediately the wicked one (the birds in the parable) snatches it away.  There is a force at work in the world that doesn't want this word to take root, to prevail, to be a part of our lives as we live them.  If this word doesn't find good soil, and rests in "stony places" then it is not long-lived.  To have a stony heart, in the language Jesus frequently uses, is a heart that at some level rejects this word, doesn't want to hear its teachings and have them go more deeply within.  Joy comes with first hearing, but when it means a struggle, especially (as told in Jesus' explanation) when outward forces push back against it, faith flees.  Tribulation or persecution is enough to overcome faith, and this person stumbles.  Other outward forces work upon us in our lives.  There are the thorns of the parable, which Jesus says are cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, which choke the word.   These are the conditions of the world in which we find ourselves, and these conditions have perhaps magnified for us in modern times.  They are with us throughout our lives.  An increasingly sophisticated and developed economy, combined with popular media, creates ever more demand by such thorns.  The cares of this world go hand in hand with the deceitfulness of riches, as often they are combined in our experience:  once we have what we learn to desire, the care comes when we must pay for it -- an endless cycle.  There are so many things we cannot control; one aspect of the deceit of riches is the illusion that wealth gives us full control over everything, even the state of health.  These remain huge issues for us to negotiate through our faith.  How much time do we give it?  What priority do we give it?  Where does humility come into the way in which we negotiate the cares of this world and the deceit of riches?  These are struggles that were with these disciples then, and they certainly remain in great force with us now.  Jesus presents them as thorns which choke the word.  Each of these scenaria presented in this simple parable of sowing seed and reaping harvest from growing plants gives us an idea of what our faith must overcome and struggle through, both as individuals and corporately:  as a communion, a group related by seeking to do the will of God.  (In Monday's reading, Jesus said, "Here are My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.")  Jesus speaks of the heart, but we need to remember that heart to heart, we do have communion.  We can affect and shore up one another's faith.  We struggle with this together.  We are able to give help to one another.  Those who've come before us, the saints of the Church, whose word we can read and know, also help us to shore up our faith and take strength in it, preparing good ground.  Prayer not only offers us help and connection with Creator, it is also ground for the communion of saints.  In our services and liturgies, we worship together with all of heaven, a great cloud of witnesses.  In Jesus' telling of this parable, we can consider all the ways these thorns have magnified, and also all the ways in which the Church has given us help for the struggle of the word and its fruitfulness within us.  We have one another, we have Scripture, we have those who've come before us and made the choices in the struggle, those who illuminate the word and share their light with us.  Let us remember the tools we're given, of humility and discipline, and the importance of our choices, surrounding ourselves and our hearts with support for the rootedness and growth of the word, and the Kingdom that it builds within us and among us.

Then He spoke many things to them in parables

 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.  And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.  Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying:  "Behold, a sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.  Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up and because they had no depth of earth.  But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.  But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop:  some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

- Matthew 13:1-9

In yesterday's reading, Jesus continued His confrontation with the Pharisees (who accused Him of casting out demons by the power of demons, and then later asked Him for a sign of His identity as Christ):  "When an unclean spirit spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.  Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.'  And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.  Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.  So shall it also be with this wicked generation."  While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.  Then one said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You."  But He answered and said to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?"  And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."

On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.  And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.  Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying:  "Behold, a sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.  Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up and because they had no depth of earth.  But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.  But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop:  some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"  Jesus begins speaking in parables, and at this point in Matthew's Gospel, we are given the parable that explains it all.  My study bible says that in the Old Testament, metaphors of sowing and harvesting are common (Psalm 126:5, Jeremiah 31:27-30, Hosea 2:21-23, Joel 3:12-14), as this was a part of daily life.  Here, Jesus reveals Himself as the promised Messiah, the sower in the earth, who had been foretold in Isaiah 55:10-13.

Chapter 13 gives us the beginning of Jesus' preaching in parables.  We can ask ourselves why He develops this style of preaching at this point.  Certain significant things have happened.  The confrontation with the Pharisees (see the past three readings) has cemented their decision to be rid of Him.  It's clear that their hostility to Him will simply continue.  His break with them is also clear, as His response is simply to support and defend His ministry, and to scathingly tell them that "an evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign."  His own forecast of their future response to Him is clear in yesterday's reading, above, when He speaks of the unclean spirit that goes out and finds seven others, more wicked than himself, to dwell where he was first.  Things will go from bad to worse.  This deepening crisis of division between Himself and the religious leadership is the backdrop to today's reading, in which great multitudes are gathered to hear Him.  This will be another thorn in the side of the leadership.  Jesus' popularity is like that of a modern day pop star.  He has to get into a boat to preach to the people on the shore.  He's looking for "a few good men," as the expression goes.   He says, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"  His preaching in parables is designed to engage those whose hearts respond, and wish to find more.  He's not going to spell it out, except to the disciples in private.  He's not there for debate or argument.  His words are the seeds that fall where they fall; it's up to us what kind of ground they fall on.  The parable indicates to us that not every word falls on good ground.  They tell us of Jesus' awareness that all will not simply come to faith.  Neither will He compel anyone to that faith.  At this point, before reading the explanations Jesus gives to the disciples, what do we think of this parable?  What do the birds who pluck the seeds represent to us?  What does "stony" and "shallow" ground constitute to you?  How does it feel to be scorched by the sun, in the brilliant light of day?  What are the thorns that choke life before it can take hold?  All these things tell us something -- and more than something.  Over the course of a life they may come to have more meaning. With experience they take on tones that reflect what we've been through or seen.  We learn the importance of depth of rootedness in a time of great challenge.  We learn what it means to nurture faith, and why that is important.  We cultivate something in life for a reason.  Jesus leaves it up to us to respond, to take responsibility for what we hear.  What is it that you hear today?

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.

Parable of the Sower

 And again He began to teach by the sea.  And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea. Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:  "Listen!  Behold, a sower went out to sow.  And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.  Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth, and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.  But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.  And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.  But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced:  some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."  And He said to them, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.  And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that

'Seeing they may see and not perceive,
And hearing they may hear and not understand;
Lest they should turn,
And their sins be forgiven them.'"

And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable?  How then will you understand all the parables?  The sower sows the word.  And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown.  When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.  These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time.  Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.  Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, an the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit:  some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."

- Mark 4:1-20

Yesterday, we read that after Jesus has chosen the twelve apostles, they went into a house.  Then the crowds gathered again and came to the house, so that they could not so much as eat bread.  But when Jesus' own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind."  And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebub," and, "By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons."  So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables:  "How can Satan cast out Satan?  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.  And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end.  No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man.  And then he will plunder his house.  Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation" -- because they said, "He has an unclean spirit."  Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him.  And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You."  But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?"  And He looked about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."

 And again He began to teach by the sea.  And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea. Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:  "Listen!  Behold, a sower went out to sow.  And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.  Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth, and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.  But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.  And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.  But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced:  some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."  And He said to them, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"  Something important has happened; it's another turning point here in Jesus' ministry.  The crowds have grown so great around Him that His family thinks He is out of His mind, and notice has come to the central religious authorities in Jerusalem -- so that they accuse Him of working by the power of demons.  He has chosen the Twelve, who will be sent out on a mission to preach the gospel of the Kingdom, graced with His power also to heal and to cast out demons.  And here we begin to receive parables.  The message is not direct, but given in a form that invites thinking, for those in the crowd who will come that far, who really want what He's offering.  Parables were common in Jesus' time, well-known in Jewish culture long before.  A parable can also mean "allegory," "riddle," or "proverb" in the words used in Hebrew and Aramaic.  But Jesus becomes the parable-teacher of all time.  My study bible says that "the Scriptures, especially the Gospels, are filled with parables -- images drawn from daily life in the world to represent and communicate the deep things of God.  Parables give us glimpses of Him whose thoughts are not our thoughts and whose ways are not our ways (Is. 55:8-9)."   Jesus also quotes Isaiah here (He who has ears, let him hear!) to hint for our understanding of what He is doing by preaching in this way.  My study bible says that the truth of Jesus' parables isn't apparent to everyone; "one must have spiritual eyes to see and spiritual ears to hear, and even then there are degrees of understanding of the parables."

But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.  And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables . . ."   The mystery, says my study bible, is the reality of the presence of the Kingdom itself, "revealed in Jesus and perceived by faith."    It adds that Jesus' teaching here, to those who are outside, all things come in parables, could also be translated "to those who are outside, all things come in riddles."  It gives everyone a challenge, and teaches us that in some sense, we're responsible for our own spiritual eyes and ears.  It calls us to at least desire this place of personal receptivity.

" . . . so that 'Seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them.'"  Jesus quotes again from Isaiah here (6:9-10).  The fulfillment of these verses from Isaiah, my study bible says to us, refers to hardness of heart as the cause of lack of understanding.  "Jesus is not disclosing truth to some while hiding it from others.  He proclaims the Good News of the Kingdom openly to all, but only those who repent and believe can perceive the power of the Kingdom in Him and in their lives."

And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable?  How then will you understand all the parables?"  A note tells us:  "Discipleship requires both that we have a personal relationship with Christ and that we understand what He teaches."

"The sower sows the word.  And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown.  When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.  These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time.  Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.  Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, an the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit:  some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."  Again, the emphasis in my study bible is on our receptiveness to His teachings, including the parables, or riddles, that teach us something about the Kingdom.  It says, "The gospel of God's Kingdom is powerful; but our heart response determines its fruitfulness in our lives."

The mystery of the parables is emphasized as a hidden kind of nugget in the midst of the story.  But mystery, or something secret or hidden, isn't just about a one-time truth.  A parable is a kind of mystery or riddle that can keep giving us new truths every time we hear it.  It opens a door.  Maybe more importantly, it invites us into relationship by seeking to cultivate our own capacity for receiving, for hearing.  And that is another great mystery of the Kingdom.  Jesus' power is a mystery; it's something beyond us, that comes from places we're not a part of.  However, when Jesus speaks to Nicodemus, in John's Gospel, about baptism or being reborn in Spirit, Jesus calls this a "worldly thing" in contrast to "heavenly things."  In today's reading, Jesus explains the parable of the Sower to His disciples, and so we get the benefit of His teachings, but that doesn't mean that each of us doesn't find meaning in our own lives from hearing this parable again.  I find that at some stage in my life, I fit into each of these categories of the seeds falling here and there.  There are times His word may seem to be lost on me, times when I fight it, or the cares of the world truly choke out everything else that is of value and truth.  One element I find I greatly need in this journey of becoming a good "hearer" or developing "ears to hear" is patience.  We're on this journey for a lifetime, and so these parables or riddles that continually give us new glimpses of the Kingdom, new facets of our own journey on His "road" (another meaning of the Greek word in the Gospels for "way"), is just that:  we may want all the truth right now, mysteries solved and revealed, the fullness of our own spiritual capabilities, but that's not the nature of the Kingdom either.  Rather, we're invited in.  And each moment becomes a new capacity for hearing, for learning (being disciples), for holding our own particular perspective in His light, and finding the glimpses He offers us just now, the Way through our own particular place in life.  Really, the entirety of the Kingdom is a mystery in itself, but it's one that asks us to participate in it, as best we can.  And that's also the nature of the parables:  there are new truths to encounter, new parts of ourselves to uncover and discover in His truth about who we are and how we change or repent in His care.  Each of those seeds are things planted in us, and they don't just take root but they must also produce, crops and fruit, be cared for in each season so that they continue to produce.  We are a part of the project of this Kingdom, and His parable teaches us about where the seeds land and what we do with them, and how wholeheartedly we grow more deeply in this embrace of His love, and the "rootedness" He wishes of us.  So, today is a good day to consider where we are on the journey of the Sower:  Where's our stony ground?  What are the thorns that choke us and choke out His word?  When do the cares of the world crowd out the things of the Kingdom?  How do we make sure we're good soil for the Kingdom, and take care to maintain that richness and future promise?  All of these things are ongoing within us, and ask us to participate and even to understand.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear.  Every day, we're called again, every moment.