KEEP SOWING
Isaiah 55:10-11; Romans 8:18-23; Matthew 13:1-23 (1-9)
“I’m leaving!” said a priest as he and I were vesting for the Eucharist. Before a stunned me could respond, he explained that his province was quitting an area because after thirty years of ministry, they were not seeing the fruit of their labour. They planned to relocate to places where people were receptive.
It is frustrating to not see the results of our labour. Parents, educators, mentors… we’ve been there and felt it. We want to throw our hands up and say: “I’ve had enough.” Today’s word is addressed to those who want to quit: keep sowing because God’s word is efficacious.
Let’s situate the parable of the sower. The disciples are disheartened; Jesus has had very little “success”: the Pharisees are against him; the crowds come to him only for their benefit.
Every Israelite listening to the parable could identify with every detail: some seed fell on hard ground; much of their land was limestone and beneath a few inches of soil there was rock; some soil had fibrous roots of weeds. Every detail was commonplace except one: the size of the harvest! A farmer who reaped a five-fold harvest was fortunate; a seven-fold harvest was attributable to God and was reason to celebrate. A thirty-fold harvest? Unheard of. Sixty-fold, hundred-fold? Impossible! Jesus’ emphasis: when we sow God’s word, there will be miraculous success despite initial frustration.
The first reading gives us the reason for confidence in an abundant harvest: just as rain inevitably brings forth fruitfulness, God’s word is efficacious.
The sower knows soils are different and seeds grow differently. He sows anyway and everywhere.
And so we ought. In an age that looks for quick results, we need to sow the seed with patience and in hope that what we sow will, eventually, produce a harvest –even when it appears that every inch of ground is worthless. Keep sowing the seed because God’s word is efficacious. Will I quit or will I keep sowing?
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