This week we have an invitation to draw close to Jesus and listen to the story of the sower. It speaks to us about the abundance of
God’s generosity and points to the importance of our abundant generosity in response. It invites us to participate by serving in God’s Kingdom and brings us the hope of God’s faithfulness and promise of a reign of love.
Jesus starts teaching the people seated on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. He soon moves to the boat so that the large crowd can see and listen to him. Jesus often teaches out in the open where the people are and uses images that the people can understand. Jesus takes such care to reach us.
Farming in Israel was demanding because the land was rocky, thorny and barren. Sufficient food was produced due to the hard work of the farmers cooperating with God’s provision. “As the rain and snow come down from the heavens and
does not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do.” (Isaiah 55:10-11) This is an assurance that we can trust that God’s word will be fulfilled. God promises to provide for God’s creation, for the Kingdom.
Jesus is calling us to the freedom of the new creation and to come with all of creation in the Spirit of truth. “From the beginning until now, the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth; and
not only creation but all of us who possess the first fruits of the Spirit, we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be set free.” (Romans 8:18-23) Our invitation is to participate in God’s realm, now and always.
God calls us as a community and as individuals to be co-creators. We have a mission and are invited to give generously as Jesus does. We each have unique roles to play; we have each been created to participate uniquely and specifically in God’s creation and reign. We are part of and belong to God’s magnificent creation of love. Being created for love, we recognise that our overall purpose
is to “praise, reverence and serve God”, as St. Ignatius Loyola says and then to live in love of all God’s creation – a universe of love with God at the centre. Love is action in service. We are encouraged to serve in this Kingdom of unity, bonded by love, through the Spirit of love.
What are God’s gifts that I most treasure?
What gifts can I bring to
contribute to loving-kindness in the world?
Reflections by Kath Knowles
