Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 on biblegateway.com
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!" Verse 18"Hear then the parable of the sower. Verse 19When 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. Verse 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; Verse 21yet 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. Verse 22As 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. Verse 23But 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."
Devotion
While we may wish that we were always "good soil," there will no doubt be times that we are more like the rocky ground or thorns. We're not perfect, and that's okay. We notice that the sower doesn't only throw the seeds on the good soil—surely a wise sower would know where and where not to cast the seed. But perhaps this sower hopes against all hope that something may sprout even from the thorns or rocky ground. The sower casts the seeds without reservation.
Can you think of a time in your life when, even though life looked very dim, a word of hope or faith from one person actually made a difference, actually took root and helped you for the better? As followers of Jesus, we are called not only to share God’s love where we know it will be well-received, but also, if not especially, with those who are caught in the thorns.
Prayer
Holy one, thank you for the gift of faith; help us to share your love with others even when it seems impossible. Amen.