Scripture:
In this chapter of Romans, Paul sums up what he has written in his letter up to this point, the main theme of which is the gospel of salvation -- the human need for salvation, God's grace in providing it through Jesus Christ, salvation's power over sin. You will hear the words "flesh" and "spirit" repeatedly. Paul uses "flesh" to mean human nature in its impotence and vulnerability to sin, to temptation, to that which is apart from Christ, apart from God. "Spirit" for Paul represents a power that was, not of mortals nor within mortal power, but wholly divine. Hear what Paul is telling us about life under grace, as I read from the Letter to the Romans, Chapter 8, verses 1-11.

Romans 8: 1-11

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. [3] For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, [4] so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. [5] For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. [6] To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. [7] For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law -- indeed it cannot, [8] and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.


[9] But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. [10] But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. [11] If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

May God bless this reading to our understanding.

Up to this point in Matthew's gospel, Jesus has often used metaphorical speech. In the following story we encounter for the first time what Matthew calls "parable." With a wide range of meanings including proverb, aphorism, riddle, lesson or allegory, parables defy categorization. The way parables function in the Gospels gives them a particular meaning: as a means of disclosing new truth that cannot be reduced to discursive language. The newness of Jesus' message called for a new form of communication. Parables begin in the familiar world of the hearer, but then present a different vision of the world, and thus challenge our everyday expectations. You gardeners of flowers and herbs, you tenders of grass and garden, you appreciators of summer lawns and produce, hear the unexpected in the words of Matthew, chapter 13, verses 1-9, 18-23.

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. [2] Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. [3] And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. [4] And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. [5] Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. [6] But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. [7] Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. [8] Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. [9] Let anyone with ears listen!"


[18] "Hear then the parable of the sower. [19] When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. [20] As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; [21] yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. [22] As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. [23] But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

Thus far the Gospel for this morning.

May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable unto you O Lord; our strength, and our Redeemer. Amen

Sermon:


When I first heard this parable explained to me as a young, confused woman seeking direction, my friend Tineke stressed somewhat rigidly Jesus' apparent categorization of humanity. You've got the path people, who are closed to God's good news, who don't/won't understand. Then there are the rocky type who are shallow -- the flash-in-the-pan passionate ones who lack commitment. Then there's the thorny people who are too distracted by the world's glittering images to let go and let God. Finally there are the fertile soil ones, those good people, who were open to the gospel and willing to have their lives yield new and abundant changes. When it was put that way, I naturally wanted to be included in the latter category, and to make sure I wouldn't receive God's word like those other people.

What Tineke didn't realize then and what I did not know was that a parable does not draw such neat and tidy lines. It connotes rather than denotes, evokes rather than directs. It is paradox not straight line; a parable that can be distilled into a single sentence is not a parable. So it is with the parable of the Sower, or Parable of the Seeds, or Parable of the Soils.

First Jesus tells the parable, then he interprets it. He supposedly figures it out for us. This interpretation was probably added later by others, put into Jesus' mouth to serve a variety of purposes. There is no agreement as to what is being said here, though there are numerous interpretations:

• it is a warning to Christians about what could happen when the word was not well received;
  
  
• it is assurance that ultimately, preaching the gospel will pay off;
  
  
• it is a meditation on who is going to be saved;
  
  
• it is a commentary on life as a series of strivings, losses and successes.

This parable confounds our attempts to pin it down... for all of the above may be true! And, it's a story all about us. We are the story, whether seed or soils. All of us and all believers who have gone before us and all believers to come, we are each of us all of the soil types I just mentioned. Naturally, we WANT to be fertile soil, to let that liberating word of God -- that word of love, of forgiveness, of life -- deep into our souls. But it's not always that easy. Depending on where we are in our lives, and depending on the word itself, we can experience all four soil type levels of openness. Those who don't understand, those who are shallow, those who are distracted, those who are receptive: we are all of these at some time or other, at the same time.  

For example, I can be alive in the assurance that God abides, is with me every step of my journey, and at the same time be on rocky ground, shall we say, with the truth of God's mercy. That which confounds us today may well find our souls fertile ground for next year. Think of the time when faith's word made no sense. Or how about when the word just scratched the surface of your life, not penetrating or lasting. Then there's the time when the gospel got lost amidst other words, crowded out in busyness. Think also to the occasion of the good news taking hold and taking root, resulting in life changes for you.

Our lives contain a mix of packed clay, rock, thorns and rich humus when confronted by the range of God's good news. When we hear the challenge of Jesus to love our enemies, to take up our a cross and follow him, to forgive those who sin against us, we may find we are ready, and we may not be ready yet.


Today's lesson challenges us to ask questions. We need to ask ourselves, what makes it so hard to hear God's good news? Where are our hearts packed down, impervious to God's love and mercy? About what are we rocky, permitting only shallow roots? What are the thorns of our souls, that threaten the growth of faith? What makes the difference between the fertile and the barren places within us?

What makes it so hard for me to believe that God loves me, me? I struggle with that question and recognize thorns... Old messages learned from experiences long past, repeat non-truths about God's trustworthiness, my goodness. These thorn roots need pulling.

Henri Nouwen shared a baffling experience: called upon to preach in many different places, to many different people, he brings a mighty simple message: God loves you. He described how people write it down, as if they never heard it before, rolling their eyes in ecstasy and, eureka! Now, in light of this parable, it makes sense. Sometimes our heart and soil are such that we hear God's word again as if for the first time.

I think back on that time when Tineke was my truest friend. "Let's clean Tineke's house for her while she's away," Anke suggested. My heart closed to the idea, why should I clean up her mess?!, but I went through the motions. Today, 16 years later, I am still stunned that I could have been so selfish, considering the generosity Tineke had shown me in a time of need. And yet also, I recognize the transformation of a hard-hearted path into something new.

Posing the questions this parable suggests is part of the process of tilling our inner gardens. We begin with an assessment of our soil conditions, get on our hands and knees and start working the dirt! As you gardeners know better than I, you are never done with gardening; it's not a once-and-for-all undertaking. It takes ongoing work, a lot of toil, but is it ever worth it! It takes prayer, honesty, God's help, each other's support.

Soon we will gather around the communion table to taste of God's love and share symbols of God's bounty. It's an opportunity to let God in as deeply as we can. We are invited to come as we are, for God is a reckless, extravagant sower, broadcasting the gospel of love and forgiveness across all types of soils. Hallelujah!

Sally Wile 7/7/96
6th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A
Unedited Sermon for Personal Reflection