Matthew 13:1-9 (NRSV)
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Chapter 13That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Verse 2Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. Verse 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. Verse 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Verse 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. Verse 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Verse 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Verse 8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Verse 9Let anyone with ears listen!"
Devotion
This parable speaks of the recklessness of God, who scatters the seed of the word all over the place. God does not seek out only the “good” people. Anyone and everyone can be addressed by the word. The message speaks of the power of the word of God to bring forth a harvest.
Casting the seed of the word can happen anywhere. One Good Friday evening, instead of attending church, my wife and I went to a performance of “Jesus Christ Superstar” at a bar. Some might think it’s an unlikely setting for proclamation of the Gospel, but the production was powerful and when the time came for the 39 lashes there was total silence. There was good soil there and the message came through loud and clear.
Even if your life is full of rocks, thorns and hard places, the word will take hold. There will be a crop.
Prayer
Dear Lord, Thank you for your recklessness in the proclamation of the gospel. That means that even I am included. Amen.