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 Isaiah 55:1-5, 10-13; Psalm 65:9-14; Romans 8:9-17; Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Let Your Seeds So Fly

Ruth and Ralph leaving—more than losing friends

Losing models who by their lives reflect the Gospel

Models of faithfulness, examples of the fertile ground of which Jesus Speaks

But faithfulness is born out of commitment and commitment is born out of belief – and belief goes before all .  .  . defines who we are, marks us as Christ’s own 

Jesus told this parable to answer a question to deal with a real issue. We can almost hear one of the disciples ask, "Jesus, why doesn't everyone respond positively to you?" Let us imagine that it is Thomas, the Doubter. This is a question that troubles all of us who believe and seek to live in obedience to God's commandments because we love Jesus.

Why is it that some people even if they have heard Jesus' message, or grew up going to church, don't get it? This question has been answered in various ways by different theological systems over the years. The Universalists would say that it doesn't matter, the “predestinationist” would say “God chooses those who will be saved and it is nobody's business but God's, as we all deserve condemnation for our sinfulness anyway." And there are ranges of answers between these two extremes.

Jesus' own answer is much more complex-and both satisfying and troubling. Jesus interprets his own parable this way. The seeds are sown. Some hear but the evil one snatches the words from them, these are the people represented by the seeds that fall on the path.

Those people represented by the seeds that fall on the shallow soil are able to hear and respond, but the Gospel never really takes root in their lives. So the barely started Christians wither away and never reach maturity, as the text says, "they fall away when persecution comes." In our own time there is not as much persecution of those seeking the Christian religious path as there was in earlier times. It may be that our equivalent of this is when "unrooted" new Christians hear about tithing, weekly church attendance, regular prayer, and commitment to what Christ asks of us, and leave.

Where seeds fall in the thorns, the text says that the "cares of the world and the lure of wealth" entangle them.  Commitment to Christ is secondary to these outside demands—and if they want “church” in their lives, they seek out a philosophy more amenable to societal demands than to those asked of us by Jesus.  We all know folk for whom this is reality.

But some seed fall son the deep soil and bears grain. These are people who hear the Gospel. They respond. The word of grace takes charge of their lives. They grow and mature into Christians.

This parable not only answers the question," Why doesn't everybody get it?" But also leads those of us who do get it, to ask, "What can we do to help those who don't. get the saving message?"

This parable leads us to ask two more questions. The first is, "Shall we continue to proclaim the Gospel even if everyone doesn't get it? " The second question is more personal. It is, "what kind of soil am I?"

The first question must be answered, "Yes." Whether or not we proclaim the Gospel is not really an option. Jesus said, " If you love me, you will keep my commandments." Jesus also commanded, "Go and make disciples of all peoples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." If we love him, we evangelize. And this is more than just a matter of obedience. It is a matter of our soul's health. As we grow in obedience, we grow in love. As we grow in love, our souls grow in health.

Comes in different manifestations. The young man in Market Square on Duke of Glouster St Reading from the Bible—people rush past—some kook.  I said to Claudia—that certainly is both commitment and courage.  Claudia said—And people brush by thinking him some sort of kook!  But is is a way

Deep and rich soil.  Ruth and Ralph Lund deep roots—a witness so powerful that virtually nothing has shaken it.  Think of how many versions of Good Shepherd they have seen and lived through—

“Crises” that turned other heads and distracted them from pursuing Christ were simply unable to shake the faithfulness of these two believers.  That there are so many of you here this morning who have come and gone, yet are here to honor these two-- is powerful testimony to their faith.

Their contribution here is more than this organ, more than the school building—both of which they were instrumental in bringing about—

Their gift to us here a quiet witness to the power of the love of Jesus in our lives.

The last question is, "What kind of soil are you?" All of us have parts of our lives like the path, or the shallow soil, or the tangled place where there are weeds. The degree to which we focus on these troubled areas of our lives is the degree to which we will not "get it". The answer is still the same as it was last week--Give those areas to God and then don't take them back.

Instead, live in the part of your life that is deep and well cultivated so that the Gospel can grow there. God's love and your best can bear the fruit that will feed the world.   Ralph and Ruth . . .

May the road rise to meet you,

May the winds always be at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall gently upon your pathways,

And until we meet again,

May God hold you

 in the hollow of

His hand

Amen