Sower â Mt. 13:24-30 ...
Sermon, July 23, 2017 – 7 Pentecost – Parable/Sower – Mt. 13:24-30, 36-43 I don’t know about you, but I’m not crazy about parables – I usually tell it the way it is and prefer information directed to me come the same way. In his book, “The Parables of the Kingdom”, Capon says that Jesus used parables to show the ‘know it all’s that they really didn’t have all the answers like they thought they did - - Capon says: “Jesus used parables NOT to explain things to people’s satisfaction, but to call attention to the unsatisfactoriness of all their previous explanations and understandings.” Capon goes on to say: “Jesus’ main point was that any understanding of the Kingdom His hearers could come up with would be a misunderstanding.” A parable is simply a comparison, a putting of one thing beside another to make a point. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in theology that we miss a very simple point. What saves us is Jesus, and the way we get the salvation that He offers is by faith, And faith is simply trusting Jesus. It’s that simple. Mother Vickie & I were chatting this week about ‘gardening’ as a child. It wasn’t something we ‘wanted’ to do – it was a requirement. The gardens from our youth were a necessity – that is what put food on the table. We learned at a young age how to ‘sow’ the seed; how to weed – to tell what was the plant growing from the seed planted; and when it was ripe – we recognized that it was picking time. Because of the exposure to gardening as a child, I have to say I don’t have a desire to grow much today. I enjoy the produce – but not the act that goes along with acquiring it. That is what it’s like as we live in our world today – there is good and bad seed being planted. Often we can’t tell the weeds from the true plant. Sometimes we have to just let the weed grow along with the plant until the plant matures and we can see the difference. There are people that we interact with who are ‘good’ people, or so they appear to be. There are also noticeably evil people – BUT then there are those who we really can’t be sure about. When doing a little research on the translation from Greek we find there is a difference in interpretation. In our English translation, we just can’t understand why the farmer (or as our reading says “the householder”) would tell the slaves to ‘let them grow together’. Weeds will choke out the wheat, right?
However, if we check the original meaning of the Greek words, it can mean ‘send away, let go, permit OR it can mean forgiveness, suffering, or permission.’ Do you think our Gospel might be saying, ‘the malice, the evil, the badness that is going on in the real world and in the lives or real people is not to be dealt with by attacking or abolishing the things or persons in whom it dwells? Or might it be saying it is to be dealt with only by letting it go (within reason – and forgiving what the evil one does?’ We are quick to point a finger at others and have expectations of others. We expect everyone will think and do as we do. We often don’t allow other’s opinions, feelings or whatever to enter the equation. Also, perhaps we are like the servants - - totally preoccupied with the weeds - - the problem of evil. Haven’t we for over 2000 years directed our efforts at trying to figure out an explanation of the presence of evil and what to do about it instead of loving others and figuring out how we should act in the presence of evil? Or perhaps we ‘see no evil’. On the other hand, the ‘slaves/field hands’ first discovered the weeds. Likewise, often hard working volunteers are the first to notice when things aren’t going right - - the closer one gets to the ground the easier it is to see something harmful spreading. How many times have we asked: ‘If God is good, why is the world bad?’ Or ‘Why does God allow terrible things to happen to good people?’ God allowed sin to enter the world - - that’s not to say He’s the author of it nor does He condone it. In Jesus’ explanation, He says the ‘field’ is the world - - there is no place, no time, no people where the Kingdom is not already at work - - so this must mean that there is good & evil all around us all the time - - in all of us as well. Good and evil exist side by side in our world – in our church – everywhere. It’s not our job to weed evil out – we don’t see the hearts of others – God does – AND only Jesus has the power to transform hearts. It’s our job to remain true believers and not become hypocrites. It’s not our job to weed. We have to remember that our standards aren’t perfect either. BUT God’s are. Good & evil may not be seen the same by God. If WE try to get rid of evil we will have to get rid of everyone - - remember, good and evil exist side by side. Our question should be: ‘What kind of seeds will I plant?’ Will they be seeds of goodness and kindness or seeds that entangle and spread weeds?
What kind of seeding are you? The reason the “Master” says to do nothing is because that is the preferred response to evil - - the devil has no power against goodness. That is why he sneaks in ‘while everyone is sleeping’ – YES!!!! In the dark!!! – To sow the weeds – then he sits back and waits for us to get flustered and do the rest of the job for him! Sometimes evil plans are disguised as good plans or good people. It’s not always easy to distinguish the difference. Patience should not be confused with condoning evil though. Sometimes things look good and as time goes on they become not so good. Also, we may be thinking we are doing right and it may take months or years to decide that we were wrong. You may be thinking, ‘BUT Jesus does say the weeds are going to be bound and bundled and burned - - BUT did you notice how little attention He gives to that part? Granted much of the parable is devoted to evil itself – BUT not the avenging of it. And, yes - - Jesus does end on a note of ultimate triumph of justice. WHY? Perhaps to stress the truth!!! God is in charge and He will under any circumstance get His own way! Maybe Jesus also gave the ultimate vindication the little bit of attention at this particular point. We, as a human race are hooked on eschatology – the part of theology concerned with death, judgment and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind. Jesus gives us a piece of it and we spend our time fantasizing about the final score – settling the issue that none of us, except by forgiveness, could possibly survive. I believe that Jesus knows that is how we think and can’t you see Him thinking: ‘Well, I gave them the fire and brimstone stuff that they were dying to hear; and I’m glad I guess, because after all it is the truth’. BUT Oh how I hate to think of what they are going to do with it!’ We would do better to focus on the Kingdom. It’s not that ‘someday’ Jesus will do this, that and the other thing and then the Kingdom will come. Jesus says He is, not will be, the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is also continuously pointing to Himself – ‘believe in me’ as the mysterious center from which and in which the Father reconciles the world to Himself. We CAN NOT see the mysteries. On the last day, Jesus will not do anything new; He will simply make clear to us what He has been doing all along – what, in fact, He has
long since done by preparing for us a Kingdom from the foundation of the world. It will be in seeing Him, as He is, that it will finally dawn on us what, in Him, we have always been. If we want to receive grace we must be willing to extend it. We should love the sinner but hate the sin. It takes tolerance – and Yes, we can hold people accountable; but we should affirm the good in each one and forgive – perhaps one of the hardest things we have to do - - forgive. After all, don’t we expect to be forgiven if we do wrong, hurt someone or make a mistake? I read something this week that I thought was interesting: ‘More is caught than taught’. What are others seeing? Are we being considerate? Also, Paul in his letter to the Galatians 6 says: ‘Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived. Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others – ignoring God! - harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.’ Let us all be good sowers, sowing good seed - - nourishing them by loving one another and not uproot any weeds through looking down on others - - after all, we are ALL sinners - - we all need forgiveness and acceptance.
However, if we check the original meaning of the Greek words, it can mean ‘send away, let go, permit OR it can mean forgiveness, suffering, or permission.’ Do you think our Gospel might be saying, ‘the malice, the evil, the badness that is going on in the real world and in the lives or real people is not to be dealt with by attacking or abolishing the things or persons in whom it dwells? Or might it be saying it is to be dealt with only by letting it go (within reason – and forgiving what the evil one does?’ We are quick to point a finger at others and have expectations of others. We expect everyone will think and do as we do. We often don’t allow other’s opinions, feelings or whatever to enter the equation. Also, perhaps we are like the servants - - totally preoccupied with the weeds - - the problem of evil. Haven’t we for over 2000 years directed our efforts at trying to figure out an explanation of the presence of evil and what to do about it instead of loving others and figuring out how we should act in the presence of evil? Or perhaps we ‘see no evil’. On the other hand, the ‘slaves/field hands’ first discovered the weeds. Likewise, often hard working volunteers are the first to notice when things aren’t going right - - the closer one gets to the ground the easier it is to see something harmful spreading. How many times have we asked: ‘If God is good, why is the world bad?’ Or ‘Why does God allow terrible things to happen to good people?’ God allowed sin to enter the world - - that’s not to say He’s the author of it nor does He condone it. In Jesus’ explanation, He says the ‘field’ is the world - - there is no place, no time, no people where the Kingdom is not already at work - - so this must mean that there is good & evil all around us all the time - - in all of us as well. Good and evil exist side by side in our world – in our church – everywhere. It’s not our job to weed evil out – we don’t see the hearts of others – God does – AND only Jesus has the power to transform hearts. It’s our job to remain true believers and not become hypocrites. It’s not our job to weed. We have to remember that our standards aren’t perfect either. BUT God’s are. Good & evil may not be seen the same by God. If WE try to get rid of evil we will have to get rid of everyone - - remember, good and evil exist side by side. Our question should be: ‘What kind of seeds will I plant?’ Will they be seeds of goodness and kindness or seeds that entangle and spread weeds?
What kind of seeding are you? The reason the “Master” says to do nothing is because that is the preferred response to evil - - the devil has no power against goodness. That is why he sneaks in ‘while everyone is sleeping’ – YES!!!! In the dark!!! – To sow the weeds – then he sits back and waits for us to get flustered and do the rest of the job for him! Sometimes evil plans are disguised as good plans or good people. It’s not always easy to distinguish the difference. Patience should not be confused with condoning evil though. Sometimes things look good and as time goes on they become not so good. Also, we may be thinking we are doing right and it may take months or years to decide that we were wrong. You may be thinking, ‘BUT Jesus does say the weeds are going to be bound and bundled and burned - - BUT did you notice how little attention He gives to that part? Granted much of the parable is devoted to evil itself – BUT not the avenging of it. And, yes - - Jesus does end on a note of ultimate triumph of justice. WHY? Perhaps to stress the truth!!! God is in charge and He will under any circumstance get His own way! Maybe Jesus also gave the ultimate vindication the little bit of attention at this particular point. We, as a human race are hooked on eschatology – the part of theology concerned with death, judgment and the final destiny of the soul and of humankind. Jesus gives us a piece of it and we spend our time fantasizing about the final score – settling the issue that none of us, except by forgiveness, could possibly survive. I believe that Jesus knows that is how we think and can’t you see Him thinking: ‘Well, I gave them the fire and brimstone stuff that they were dying to hear; and I’m glad I guess, because after all it is the truth’. BUT Oh how I hate to think of what they are going to do with it!’ We would do better to focus on the Kingdom. It’s not that ‘someday’ Jesus will do this, that and the other thing and then the Kingdom will come. Jesus says He is, not will be, the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is also continuously pointing to Himself – ‘believe in me’ as the mysterious center from which and in which the Father reconciles the world to Himself. We CAN NOT see the mysteries. On the last day, Jesus will not do anything new; He will simply make clear to us what He has been doing all along – what, in fact, He has
long since done by preparing for us a Kingdom from the foundation of the world. It will be in seeing Him, as He is, that it will finally dawn on us what, in Him, we have always been. If we want to receive grace we must be willing to extend it. We should love the sinner but hate the sin. It takes tolerance – and Yes, we can hold people accountable; but we should affirm the good in each one and forgive – perhaps one of the hardest things we have to do - - forgive. After all, don’t we expect to be forgiven if we do wrong, hurt someone or make a mistake? I read something this week that I thought was interesting: ‘More is caught than taught’. What are others seeing? Are we being considerate? Also, Paul in his letter to the Galatians 6 says: ‘Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived. Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others – ignoring God! - harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.’ Let us all be good sowers, sowing good seed - - nourishing them by loving one another and not uproot any weeds through looking down on others - - after all, we are ALL sinners - - we all need forgiveness and acceptance.
