“Other seeds fell on rich soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Listen anyone who has ears.” (Matthew 13:8)

Matthew 13:1-23

In Matthew’s parable of The Sower, Jesus is teaching us something about God’s Kingdom. We have already heard that it is a mystery that we do not fully understand now because God has plans or designs beyond our comprehension, which have both present and future dimensions. What is my hope in God’s reign?

Jesus, the sower, initiates the relationship between God and us. When we seek or pray, we always respond to God’s invitation. We come to deeper faith when we experience God’s presence and see God, who always longs for a loving relationship. The seed that Jesus spreads is Jesus’ preaching about the Kingdom. In the good soil, our receptivity to the good news of God’s love is taken in and yields remarkable results. 

These results are productive growth, fruitfulness, and love. They come from receiving the Word when we experience it in others, hear it or read it, and then reflect on it to bring it to our hearts. We see God more clearly, believe, and respond to God’s love and invitations by imitating what we have received, becoming more like God. Relationship with God leads us to act in love, serving lovingly.

Jesus tells us, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength,... and love your neighbour as yourself.” (Mark 12:30). Jesus also always requests special attention for those on the fringes of society, the ‘little ones’, the widows and children, the excluded. Jesus identifies some of them, “the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.”(Luke 7: 22-23). And again, in Matthew 25: 35-40, “For I was hungry.., thirsty.., a stranger.., lacking clothes.., sick and in prison..”. “In truth, I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.”

We, the followers of the Body of Christ, are now Jesus’ voice, hands and feet. How can I be Christ for others? My mission from God is expressed in my deepest desires and skills. Where can I bring what is life-giving for me to give life to others? 

We see that the Sower invites us to participate in God’s reign by firstly receiving God’s Word in our minds, hearts and souls; and then responding in love by offering loving kindness to all of God’s creation, human, animal and nature with the unique gifts with which God has graced each of us, so we may all be gathered into Love. “Listen, those who have ears!”

What helps me to see and hear Jesus?

What in my life allows others to see God in me?

Do I allow the real me, the God of love within me, to show up?

How will I serve in God’s kingdom today?
 

Reflections by Kath Knowles

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