We are experiencing in our nation at this point in its history what might be called "the greening of America." Many see it as an the result of waste and failure. It is very much like the waste and failure story of today’s gospel reading as well as the story of the life of both Jesus himself and the prophets of old. Perhaps, as well, the national greening experience will ultimately become the success that followed the waste and failure of the Sower in the gospel story.
The well-known story of the Parable of the Sower was used by Jesus to teach his disciples about the difference, the tension, between what the traditional teachings of the Pharisees and the new teachings he was bringing to them. Jesus was not suggesting a turning away from God but, rather, a calling to turn to God, hearing and seeing his teachings grow in their relationship with him. Yet, despite his goodness and the seeds he was planting, there were those in charge planting the seeds for his removal from the scene. But Jesus turns to parables to help his followers because they are easy to apply to daily life. He often presents the parable models in the hearing of the Pharisees. However, he was experiencing the reality of waste and failure. The Pharisees "just did not get it." Their hearts were hardened by selfish, self-aggrandizing needs to control even people’s learning about Yahweh.
The Sower parable relates how much waste and failure the farmer experienced in his annual planting. As well it reflects Jesus’ own experience as a teacher, as the Father’s messenger. Crowds followed when he was providing meals in the fields or working miraculous cures. Yet as his fame and message became more widespread and more threatening to those who wanted power, the seeds of hostility were being planted. Ultimately, waste and failure would succeed in his conviction and death. We might say that his work to bring about the growth of the kingdom of his Father was like most of the farmers’ efforts to produce a good crop.
It was a story of waste and failure ... but only until the end. Some of the farmer’s seeds – his hopes for a bountiful harvest – are spread upon soil that has been well-prepared for a successful crop. At the end of the parable Jesus teaches that the usual 20% return on the farmer’s investment exceeded that amount by as much as 100%.
Jesus is teaching that apparent and almost certain waste and failure are do not always win. There can be an abundant harvest. He was as certain of God’s power, his presence, as expressed in the first reading from Isaiah: My word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it."
The story of apparent waste and failure and the plentiful harvest, thanks to God, is an expression of encouragement where there is seeming failure and defeat. Jesus was bolstering his followers as well as ourselves. Daily we might struggle against an evil or weaknesses in our lives that choke our spiritual journey. Getting up from repeated failures to overcome something that separates us from our God becomes more challenging. We can question why our crop of holiness seems to be both difficult and so minimal.
Jesus’ message to the disciples and us is clear: sow the seeds of a spiritual life in every part of your life and let the growth be in the hands of God. Be trusting: God will produce a definite harvest in your life; one far greater than you might expect because the harvest depends upon God.
As one spiritual writer expresses it: Don’t focus on the hardened soil, the soil overgrown with weeds or thorn bushes. There you turn inward. Rather focus on the good soil that is under God’s control, God’s care. There you will experience an extraordinary harvest.
Prayer on Capitol Hill
