Monday, August 22, 2016

Today’s Reading  |  Luke 8:1–15
Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.

When a great crowd gathered and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: “A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold.” As he said this, he called out, “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to others I speak in parables, so that ‘looking they may not perceive, and listening they may not understand.’ “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones on the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe only for a while and in a time of testing fall away. As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear; but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance. (NRSV)

Reflection
You just stepped right on the word of God, and you didn’t even notice!

In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus told a parable of a farmer sowing his seed and explained to the disciples that the seed is the word of God. Because the disciples listened to Jesus’ explanation, they could “hear” the message. The general public would not understand. To them it would remain just a story.

To me, this scripture tells us that everyone hears the word of God—it is distributed evenly all over this earth. We determine the outcome. We are the soil. How healthy is your soil? Can it sustain and grow what God so freely gives? Is it unprotected—allowing God’s message to be stolen and not lived out? Is it rocky— joyfully receiving, but not able to sustain faith through tough times? Is it thorny—able to grow God’s word, but choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of the world?

I believe the word of God is all around us. It is not limited to the strong, clear messages coming from our pulpit or daily devotionals. It is scattered around us everyday—even thrown at us, like rice to the bride and groom! Could the word of God be someone’s smile? The voice of a loved one? A sunrise?

These seeds are all around you. Don’t step on them! Water your soil and commence to grow the word!

Prayer
Dear God, thank you for trusting your children enough to cast your seeds toward us. Help us grow your word. Amen.

Written by Katy Sinclair, Associate Director of Music for Children and Youth

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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