IV.
Do you agree with Jesus that calling this story “the parable of the sower” a good description?

As you spend time today considering the parable, pay attention to the sower, the seeds and the soils. What stands out to you about each?

V.
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 (NRSVue)

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on a path, and the birds came and ate them up. 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. But when the sun rose, they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. If you have ears, hear!”

“Hear, then, the parable of the sower. 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. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 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. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 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.”

VI.
What is of primary importance in your reading of this parable?

The environments which may or may not be conducive to good growth?

The seeds which while capable of great growth may, depending on the environment, produce little or nothing?

The sower who it seems takes no concern of where seeds are thrown. He is so casual with the precious seeds, it seems wrong to refer to him as someone who plants seeds or who gardens.

What seems important to you in Jesus’ parable?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Desu ibi est}