The Prodigal Sower
Pentecost 7A
July 16, 2023
Christ, Preston, MN
Matthew 13.1-9, 18-23
By way of introduction, I’m going to give you a little glimpse into the life of a preacher. One thing you need to know is that most preachers work very hard on their sermons and take them seriously. Furthermore, we’ve all had the experience where a sermon we thought was good got no response and the opposite is true. A sermon we thought was a dud, but didn’t have anything else to offer, went over big. Frankly, while we appreciate it when people say, “Good sermon, pastor,” the response we’d like to make is, “That remains to be seen.” If you’ve said that to me, chances are I’ve not been that snarky, instead saying, “I was preaching to myself. If you got something out of it, so much the better.” I truly believe that if the text doesn’t speak to me, it probably won’t speak to you. Even so, my favorite comment from parishioners is, “You made me think.”
The response (or lack of it) to the Good News of Jesus Christ is at the heart of today’s Gospel reading in Matthew. Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower and to be clear, in spite of his explanation, there still remains a variety of interpretations. Today I’m going to think along the lines of what Matthew’s community dealt with and why some commentators think Matthew included this parable in his collection. That is to say, Matthew used this parable to address an important question: why did some people respond to the Good News and why did some of them not, a situation in the early Jewish synagogues that caused some conflict.
It’s a similar question put to Martin Luther by his protégé Philip Melanchthon 1500 years later. If God’s Word is so powerful, why doesn’t everybody accept it? Luther, in response, breezily answered, “The Spirit blows wherever and whenever it wills.” Of course, that’s no real answer at all, but it’s the best he could do. But before we proceed, it’s helpful to remember that parables are not puzzles to solve; they are mysteries to be entered. They are to open us up more than we are to open them up. So, when we enter this parable, it needs to be from a place of humility as we realize that all soil conditions apply to each of us at one time or another. In other words, we’re not always good soil.
The aspect of the parable that stands out for me today is the prodigious behavior of the Sower, who could be known as the Prodigal Sower. Though some people make a case that casting seed far and wide was a common practice in Jesus’ day, it seems to me excessively generous and perhaps downright wasteful, as Jesus’ explanation shows. Yet that doesn’t stop the Sower from the practice; God’s Word is thrown about like glitter. One interpretation is that God never, ever gives up on people, no matter what the result, and keeps spreading the Word regardless of the consequences.
It’s important to remember that most of Jesus’ parables are Kingdom parables. Jesus often begins his parables by saying, “The kingdom of God is like…” His parables try to describe the way of God’s activity and values that are difficult to pin down, and not “this is how we should live” kind of parables. Having said that, and reminding you that I’m not proposing the final solution, I think that there are questions raised by actions of a God who liberally and tirelessly spreads the Word. So, let me raise a few questions based on my time with you that you might find interesting to entertain.
Some of you have wondered why more people haven’t returned to worship or reengaged in the life of the congregation. Perhaps you know people who have fallen away, or may even have gone to other places. This is a complex question that the Transition Team touched on and your leadership discusses often. But rather than address it head on, what if we allowed the Parable of the Sower to creatively expand our thinking with these four questions:
What would it mean to scatter God’s word extravagantly and not worry about the results? This is not to say that outcomes don’t matter, but what if they are less important than liberally broadcasting God’s love, grace and mercy?
What would it mean to remember that it’s God’s job to give the growth, not ours? The Apostle Paul reminded the early church of that when he declared that he planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
How could you walk alongside people on their faith journey rather than criticizing their “soil?” Can you be cultivators, helping to prepare people to receive God’s Word?
Could you be patient, realizing that the seed you scatter might lie dormant for years before bearing fruit?
The Good News is I think you have begun to take these questions to heart, whether you realize it or not. You’ve recommitted to building partnerships in the larger Preston community and want this wonderful facility to be used by more groups, both inside and outside the membership of the congregation. Furthermore, rather than criticize the number of people who join you electronically, you are strengthening your digital presence and wondering how you can creatively connect even more so. But most importantly, you are opening yourselves to God’s Spirit, wherever it leads.
Thank you for inviting me to walk with you on this portion of your faith journey. I’ve never felt as welcomed and supported as I have here, and I trust your new pastor will, too. I can think of no better words to leave you with than those of the Apostle Paul told the church at Philippi, “[I am] confident of this, that the One who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” If that’s all you remember from this sermon and my time with you, that will be enough. Amen.
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