Listening to the Parable of the Sower as a child, I used to always wonder why the sower wasn’t more careful when scattering the seed on his fields. If he had paid a bit more attention, or planted the seed in neat rows, wouldn’t he have been able to maximize his investment? Wouldn’t he have been able to yield a larger harvest, generate more profit, and reap greater benefits from his labour?
As I have gotten older, though, and as I have learned to more fully appreciate Jesus’ words after the parable, I’ve realized that approaching the parable in this way is to be a person who sees, but does not perceive, and who hears, but does not understand. Focusing only on the worldly implications of the parable, and asking questions about what the sower should have done differently is to miss the deeper point that Jesus is trying to make.
Jesus’ meaning becomes clear when he explains the parable to his disciples. The key to understanding Jesus’ message is to understand that the seed represents the Word of God. Jesus teaches us by his life that the Word is freely spoken to everyone. Jesus does not calculate and plan exactly where his word will go, or go to great lengths to ensure that he is only speaking to those who will receive his message. His word is spread far and wide, and whether that words takes root or not will depend on the disposition of the hearer.
I believe that there are two lessons for us to take away from this parable. The first centers on the importance of asking ourselves what we need to do to ensure that our lives become the “good soil” that bears the fruit of the Word of God, and multiplies that word in our own words and actions. What cares, fears, worries, and concerns do we need to root out, in order to allow God to permeate our lives? Once we have addressed this question, and we begin to participate in the work of sharing the Word of God as disciples, we are ready for the second lesson. This lesion reminds us that not everyone we meet will receive the Gospel with great joy. The parable reminds us to not become discouraged when the Word of God does not take root in another person’s life, but to instead continue to focus on our mission to proclaim the Word of God through our lives.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Steven Huber, CSB