The Generous Sower

Most of the artwork about this parable I found online showed one dude with a little satchel planting seeds one at a time. The image and sounds in my mind include a jovial laugh coming from heaven while seeds douse the earth like the monsoon rains.

“Listen. What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn’t put down roots, so when the sun came up, it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled among the weeds and nothing came of it. Some fell on good earth and came up with a flourish, producing a harvest exceeding his wildest dreams.” – The Parable of the Sower, MSG

The disciples don’t get it and when they have Jesus all to themselves, he explains. The farmer is planting the Word. Our heavenly gardener doesn’t have a few packs of seed from Menards. He’s not planting on a budget or even being particular about the soil he uses. He takes a risk, knowing that his hopes and good intentions are not the only force at work in the lives of the seeds. Life will be unpredictable and they might not make it.

...But what if they do? What if they sprout up in the cracked concrete or dusty deserts or muddy shade? There is nothing more beautiful than a lone sunflower shining with triumph along the side of a busy, littered highway. There’s nothing more inspiring than a young person beating the odds, finding success and thriving despite the roadblocks they’ve faced.

And so the farmer scatters seed all over this world because this seed - this Word - is perfectly abundant. The Word made flesh in Jesus Christ will never run out. He is universal, generous and given for everyone.

It is good to know that the Word is already planted, wherever I go. I am not responsible for “bringing Christ” to people – to hospital rooms, the pulpit and everyday conversations. The seed, the Word, Jesus Christ is already present in an authentic and mysterious way.

Our call? To proclaim the good news of the Triune God as already here.

Our Creator is planting in liberal and wild ways.

Jesus is already present – scattered and growing in unpredictable places.

The Spirit is calling us to proclaim God’s abundant and invested presence to everyone.

Whoa. And I can’t even keep an aloe plant alive. I’m feeling thankful for a bountiful God, who is gardener, seed and growth. Alleluia!