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And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying:
“A sower went out to sow.
The parable of the sower addresses two dimensions of reality simultaneously. It speaks of the world as a whole, and of the many people in it who will not ultimately receive the Gospel in a transformative way. But since it tells of the pitfalls that can prevent one from receiving the Gospel at also addresses itself, albeit more obliquely, to the individual.
Jesus is not implying that some people should just give up since they are destined to have the word stolen from the by the evil one, to be overcome by tribulation or persecution, or to be overwhelmed by anxiety or the lure of riches. The reason that we are warned about the machinations of the world, the flesh, and the devil is precisely so that we do not succumb to them.
When Jesus invited the rich young man to sell all he had and follow him it was really possible for him to do so. When that man walked away sad he became a cautionary tale, helping us to realize that the challenges we face cannot be overcome on our own. What is impossible for man is possible for God. Receiving his divine seed even a little leads to a great terraforming of our internal terrain, making it ever more hospitable to bearing fruit.
Jesus told his disciples not to be anxious precisely because if they let anxiety have free reign in their hearts it could choke the word Jesus was planting in them. He trained them to do, not only without riches, but with almost nothing, so that they would know, with Paul, how to abase or abound (see Philippians 4:12).
There were a variety of threats to developing a solid understanding of the word. The Pharisees were among such people who would have aided the evil one in stealing it away. But Jesus never let the Pharisees or the evil one have the last word. He always offered at least the possibility of understanding, of choosing belief over confusion and despair. Even the Pharisees themselves were implicitly invited to learn and understand by the very fact that Jesus continued to engage in dialog with them.
Why did Jesus warn his disciples that they would face persecutions? Why did he tell them that they were blessed if they suffered for the sake of his name? Because then, when it happened, they wouldn't assume that something had gone wrong or that the Gospel had failed. Because, precisely by planning for such things they would develop a sufficient root, which we may see in this case as a sufficient commitment, to endure them when they did arise.
Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven
has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.
The parable of the sower is not merely describing three types of people predestined for hell and one for heaven. Rather, it encourages in those who hear it the desire to be good soil, to receive the word, and to bear fruit in abundance. If the hardness and barrenness of our soil seems to be a problem we can recognize the deeper reality that baptism has made us new creations, like the flood did in the time of Noah. The Spirit, like a dove, is inviting us to bear the fruits, which are his own gifts, in this new world.
To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich;
from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Even just in virtue of hearing this parable we have something, something on which to build. The more we lean into it the more we will have. It has the potential to produce more than it seems, and infinitely more than we could do without it. By contrast, refusing to receive Jesus leaves us without options. The seed alone can be enough. But we must be the soil that receives it. We have ears and the sound waves do penetrate them. But will we really hear? That is the call of Jesus to us today. It is not just a biological process, but a response of faith that makes the difference.
so shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
my word shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it.
John Michael Talbot - I Am The Vine
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