(Audio)
At other times in salvation history prophets described a famine "of hearing the words of the Lord" (see Amos 8:11). But in Jesus Christ God inaugurated an era of abundance, as we can see from how generously the sower sowed the seed, the seed which "is the word of God".
The reason the sower sowed so widely and in such diverse terrain cannot be because he was careless or wasteful. On the one hand he seems to know the likely results of scattering seed on the path, rocky ground, or among the thorns. On the other hand he must have believed that even in difficult scenarios growth was possible. He must have warned against the difficult conditions one might encounter because such a warning might avail for the growing plants. Without this additional word to illuminate the danger the plants might succumb to said danger. But if their growth took account of it they might yet reach full maturity.
And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew,
it produced fruit a hundredfold.
Why mention the good soil? Is it only to highlight some lucky seeds who happen to find themselves in perfect and challenge free growing conditions? Not likely. There aren't very many people whose circumstances are this ideal. More likely it was to highlight the value of good soil as an ideal, contrasted with the real world conditions in which we often find ourselves. When we realize how valuable are the things that make for our growth we will not be as likely to neglect them. When we realize how dangerous thorns, rocks, and a lack of root can be, we will not simply settle ourselves among them without concern.
Plants grow instinctively toward the sun and put down roots insistently, sometimes even breaking through rocks to do so. But we are creatures whose growth is directed by a conscious rather than an instinctual awareness. This means we may sometimes be less insistent when we encounter difficulties. But it also means that we have more freedom at such times. When we encounter obstacles we have more options and more alternatives from which to choose, by which to surpass limits, to grow and bear fruit.
We must prioritize putting down roots. This means that Jesus himself must be more than a passing fancy for us. Mixing metaphors, he is the vine and we are meant to be his branches. It is not just brushing against him briefly but relying on him continually that can nourish us.
We should know that we will be opposed in our growth by our spiritual enemy, the Devil. If we know this we won't leave ourselves vulnerable to spiritual death through simply carelessness.
If we recognize thorns for what they are we will find enough open space to grow. The trouble comes when we don't recognize the way that anxieties and riches and pleasures of life are actually choking us and killing us little by little and complacently settle among them.
But as for the seed that fell on rich soil,
they are the ones who, when they have heard the word,
embrace it with a generous and good heart,
and bear fruit through perseverance.
Let us look again at the rich soil. We note that what it describes is anything but luck and fortunate circumstances. It describes mature growth that is possible when we have awareness of potential pitfalls. It does not say, 'Lacking obstacles it bears fruit without struggle'. Rather, good hearts that, by the grace of sower, persist and persevere, transforming the terrain in which they find themselves, whatever it may be, making even deserts bear fruit.
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
it shall blossom abundantly
and rejoice with joy and singing (see Isaiah 35:1-2).
The light toward which we grow is something greater than sunlight, something more than we can ask or imagine, that eye has not seen and ear has not heard, which is now the source of our life, but which will one day be made manifest.
until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ
that the blessed and only ruler
will make manifest at the proper time,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light,
and whom no human being has seen or can see.
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