Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!"
"Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
I can’t think of a better place to preach on Jesus’ parable of the sower than in the Grace Garden at Cross of Grace.
This summer my work in the church garden has taken on new significance as it is one of the few places besides my home where I have spent time during quarantine. This has been my vacation spot, my quiet place, my study, my gym, and, on occasion, my social hour. It is a place I can come to and feel like I’m doing good and necessary work growing food to be shared with people who are hungry.
One of the reasons I spend so much time in the garden, other than the obvious fact that gardening requires a lot of time, is that gardening is my favorite metaphor for spiritual life. I guess that’s one thing I have in common with Jesus, who often taught spiritual principles using garden imagery. In addition to using garden-related imagery as teaching illustrations, Jesus also prayed in gardens and was even mistaken for a gardener when he appeared to Mary after his resurrection, which I’ve always thought was an absolutely beautiful way to think about God’s promise of the resurrected life.
In today’s parable, Jesus hones in on soil as one particular aspect of gardening that is a metaphor for discipleship. Jesus tells us that God’s word is like seed sown indiscriminately on the soil of our hearts. Some heart-soil is impenetrable; the seeds sit on the surface and external threats steal the seeds away. Some heart-soil lacks the nutrients necessary for lasting and sustainable growth. Some heart-soil would rather do anything but care for the seed of God’s word. But other heart-soil is rich with nutrients; it pours its energy into allowing the seed of God’s word to take root, grow, and produce fruit for the world to enjoy.
In the Grace Garden, the soil doesn’t get to choose what kind of soil it will be. Although, it should be said, if this area were to be completely untouched for twenty years and allowed to grow without interference, the top inch or two of soil would be some of the richest and most incredible soil you could hope for. That’s because nature (i.e., God’s “good” creation) prevails.
When we started this garden three years ago, I took a soil sample and had it analyzed. It was exactly what you’d expect from soil that was near a construction site within the last decade. It was devoid of most necessary nutrients, couldn’t hold moisture, and was ill-suited to grow anything but weeds. New topsoil, minerals, and compost was added to the existing soil and crops were planted that would affix necessary nutrients back into the soil. Through the past three years the soil quality has steadily improved and now we can count on productive crop growth each summer. The soil was lacking; but some care and attention eventually enhanced its quality.
As we explore the spiritual metaphor, please understand I’m not saying we should obsess over analyzing the quality of our heart-soil or “doing” things in order to make our heart-soil more acceptable to God. Lutheran theology is absolutely clear on the fact that we cannot do anything to earn God’s grace and love. But where we sometimes sell ourselves short is in the realization we absolutely have things to do in response to God’s freely-given grace. There are ways to amend our heart-soil so that the fruits of the spirit can grow and be shared with the world. This is the task of discipleship. The fruit of the spirit is always a freely-given gift of grace, but God doesn’t grow fruit in soil that lacks the necessary spiritual nutrients.
In these past few months of social unrest I’ve taken the spiritual metaphor of the garden to heart. I have felt a divine invitation to assess the quality of my heart-soil and take stock of what’s growing in my spiritual garden.
Are the seeds of God’s word able to penetrate the surface of my heart-soil? Or am I not receptive to the always-surprising and expansive scope of God’s grace?
Are the seeds of God’s word able to draw from a diversity of necessary nutrients in my heart-soil? Have I amended my heart-soil with the ideas and perspectives of others that are necessary heart-soil amendments if I hope to bear spiritual fruit? Or does my heart-soil consist only of my own ideas and preconceived notions?
Are the seeds of God’s word being tended to and nurtured in my heart-soil? Or am I too busy, preoccupied, or lazy to tend to them?
Contemplating the answers to these questions can be painful and embarrassing (trust me on that one); but is an absolutely essential step if you hope to bear the fruit of peace, joy, love, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There will be no justice and no peace until we allow God’s word to penetrate our heart-soil and cooperate with the Spirit’s power to “let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” (Amos 5:24).
My hope and prayer for you is that you will find a way into the garden of your heart. Maybe you will find that here in the Grace Garden, as I so often have. Maybe you need nothing more than the pages of scripture or the folded hands of prayer. But wherever you find access to your heart-soil, please be honest, brave, vulnerable with yourself as you take stock of what you have and what you lack. And above all, expect God to produce something beautiful and abundant in your life as you tend to your heart-soil.
Amen.
