Note: This prayer/meditation will be prayed at 9AM EST on Monday, June 3, 2013 at Plymouth UCC in Detroit. If you would like to join the prayer by phone conference call – 605-475-4000 at the prompt, enter 851320 followed by the # sign.
(Mk 4:1–9, 13–20; Lk 8:4–8, 11–15)
Matthew13 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!”
Pastoral Observation:
The Apostle Paul taught that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Yet, so often we find that faith will falter in the face of failure, defeat and fear. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus paints a picture with images of seeds being planted in good soil, bad soil, and no soil. I really think he was talking about the depth, quality and character of our personal faith. If our faith is weak, it withers away when the pressures of life appear – and they do appear: health challenges; grief, when someone you love dies; financial difficulty; difficulty in raising children; suffering under repressive governments; and an inability to understand the forces of nature.
As you read the Parable of the Sower, I encourage you to ask yourself, what type of soil have I planted my seeds of faith? Is my faith weak or deep? Is my faith only for show, or is it strong enough to help me in my most difficult moments? Is my faith a mature faith or one that mouths the right answers, but deep down inside is terrified when considering the unknowns of life? Jesus challenge for you and me is to be brave in our search to obtain and cultivate a mature and wholesome faith that can withstand the unpredictable nature of life.
Jesus Explanation of the Parable of the Sower:
Matthew 13: 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.”
Questions for Reflection:
1. What does this Parable of Jesus say to you?
2. What do you think the reaction of the disciples and others was when they heard this parable?
3. How can the modern Christian use this parable in developing their faith?
4. What would you compare the different kinds of soil and the seeds in the parable to in modern life?
5. What would you describe as faith in rocky soil?
6. What would you think of as faith that has no depth?
7. What is the good soil of faith?
8. What challenge does this parable give the modern Christian in terms of spreading the word of God?
9. Jesus talks about hearing the word of God. Do you think it is possible to hear without really listening and understanding the word of God?
Prayer:
Lord, plant my seed in good ground! Help me to grow in faith so my relationship with you is not shallow and weak, but a deep and mature faith. Grant me a faith that can move mountains of doubt and oceans of fear. Teach me to triumph over temptation. Help me to believe in you, even when I do not understand the capricious nature of the weather and the cruelty in some people. Lord, I am yours. Take me as I am. Shape me. Make me. Mold me into the person you would have me to be. Through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior we pray. Amen.
Written by Rev. Dr. Nicholas Hood III
Additional Prayers and Meditations at https://puccdetroit.wordpress.com/
Nicholas Hood III MInistries 