A sower went out to sow.
The sower sowed generously. There was no lack of seed, no reason to be precious with it and only place it where it seemed most likely to grow. This meant the fruit bearing plants could potentially grow even in unlikely places.
And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,
and birds came and ate it up.
What if some of the seed that fell on the path wasn't wasted, but was rather covered with dirt and worked deeper by weather and passersby? Maybe the very challenge that made some of the seed vulnerable, being exposed and vulnerable, was in some cases able to make the seed flourish.
Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil.
It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep
What if some of the seed that fell on the rocky soil was patient, resisted the urge to seek immediate gratification, and did not spring up at once? What if it waited patiently while it's roots sought to penetrate past the rocks into the deeper soil. Such plants would then, perhaps, be stronger against the wind and rain, less able to be easily uprooted because of the very thing that initially threatened their survival.
Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it.
It is certainly possible that these adverse conditions did not tell the whole story, that the initial challenges resulted in stronger long term growth. This would be consistent the Christian message, that our past does not determine our future, that there is always reason to hope, and that the very struggles we face can make us growth in faith and virtue if we persevere in the initial seed of grace we have been given.
But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit,
a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.
Insofar as our own lives are soil and our efforts are seeds we do want to seek the best soil. We do not want to leave things to chance or to force ourselves to make the best of soil. We want to sow efforts in the deep places of our hearts, with time and attention, not in places of passing fancy, not in places at risk because of the mood of the crowds. The circumstances that aren't up to us can always work for our good. But if we don't take advantage of the opportunities God gives us with the seeds that he himself provides we risk limiting how much fruit we are able to offer him in return.
“I have heard the grumbling of the children of Israel.
Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh,
and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread,
so that you may know that I, the LORD, am your God.”
Maybe we're in the desert. Maybe we're hungry with desire for which we cannot find satisfaction. It could be that these circumstances were not of our own making. Certainly desert soil doesn't always make for fruit. But we can choose how we respond. We can grumble, which does no good, and bears no fruit. Or we can patiently turn to the Lord who himself is able to make the desert bloom.
the desert will bloom with flowers.
It will be very glad and shout for joy.
The glorious beauty of Lebanon will be given to it.
It will be as beautiful as the rich lands
of Carmel and Sharon.
Everyone will see the glory of the Lord.
They will see the beauty of our God.
(see Isaiah 35:2)
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