Growing Community

THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL: MATTHEW 13: 1-9, 18-23 (MESSAGE)

At about that same time Jesus left the house and sat on the beach. In no time at all a crowd gathered along the shoreline, forcing him to get into a boat. Using the boat as a pulpit, he addressed his congregation, telling stories.

"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 by the weeds. Some fell on good earth, and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams. Are you listening to this? Really listening?

Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn't take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person's heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road. The seed cast in the gravel—this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it. The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it. The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams."

Have you ever thought about your life as soil? If so, what kind of soil is your life right now? I bet in various times our lives have been dry, cracked, or dusty. I imagine there have been times when our lives have been so full of activity, work and responsibility that it has felt very weedy choking out the life we wanted but did not have time for? Have you ever had a point in life where you felt ready for change, growth and nourishment? Have you experienced, if only for a moment, the kind of balance and wellbeing we all desire? If so, did that moment produce a harvest of fulfillment and joy?

Whether our lives are dry or weedy or balanced, the seed of God’s love and grace is sown in our lives with abandon. Noticing where God is planting and tilling is an important part of our lives of faith, as is being open to God’s Spirit in our lives. This summer as things lighten up, let’s make room for the seeds of love and grace to be planted in our lives and let’s be ready to share this with others.

Join us this Sunday, July 10 for fellowship on the front porch at 9:00am and worship at 9:30am when we will talk about Growing Community and what that means in our lives of faith. Dress comfortably, bring a friend and discover a lighter load and the free life Jesus offers. See you in church.