Homily Pentecost 4A Parable of the Sower
Having served several rural congregations, I’ve learned a little about agriculture, and about the spirit and dedication of farmers in western Canada who still labour on the family farm and have survived, drought, flooding, poor commodity prices and high interest rates…to name only a few of the obstacles.
Farmers have had to become very resourceful to keep going, prudent in their decisions on how much land to seed, how much fertilizer to use, how much to spend on equipment. It’s a tough business.
And it was a tough business in the first century when Jesus taught this parable of the Sower.
What is so remarkable about the brief parable told in Matthew is that the Sower Jesus talks about doesn’t show any of that cautious, careful behaviour we’d expect from a farmer—then or now.
The sower distributes his seeds on the path, among the rocks, in the thorns, and in the good soil.
Since seeds were a very valuable commodity at that time, and most farmers worked for larger landowners in a tenancy system, it’s odd behaviour to say the least for the Sower to waste any seeds where they are unlikely to grow.
The thing about parables is that Jesus used them, to make us think. In this case Matthew also provides an interpretation of the parable a few verses later which is included in our Gospel reading this morning.
However before we accept that this as the only interpretation of the parable, we have to consider the possibility this was a later addition to the original text by an editor who wanted to have Jesus more fully explain the parable, rather than leaving it to the hearer or reader to figure it out.
My feeling is we are meant to struggle with parables, because they usually have some sort of twist, like the extravagant use of seeds by the Sower.
Then the task for us is to interpret what Jesus means, and what it might mean for us in our lives.
I think we could call this parable the “Prodigal” or extravagant Sower. The Sower could be seen as God, dispensing grace extravagantly—often on rocky ground, or where it will not take hold, but offering grace anyway in hopes the seed will take root in our hearts.
Or else we ourselves could be the Sower, passing on God’s grace, God’s love to others, whether it is returned or not, whether it takes root or not.
The return of the seeds which were sown on good soil by the Sower was 30, 60, 100 fold.
This kind of return would have been unheard of, even in a bumper crop, then or now for that matter despite all our high-tech agricultural processes to improve yield—the so called green revolution.
So what Jesus is teaching us is that God’s grace, when we receive it, or when we pass it on, can result in an unimaginable yield, beyond our wildest expectations.
And this parable can be seen as a way to explain God’s grace, rather than talking about belief.
That isn’t to say the interpretive section on the parable isn’t useful teaching as well.
One thing which strikes me is the description of what happens when the seed falls among thorns. The cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing.
This speaks to the spiritual crisis in more affluent societies—where the church is declining. We have lost our spiritual compass thanks to a materialism that puts wealth and entertainment above faith, compassion and service.
I’m not saying faith, compassion and service are not present in our society, but they seem to have been eclipsed by a hectic and often disconnected lifestyle which grows ever more complex,but lacking purpose.
Church life and community life have suffered as families and friends are scattered. We have great mobility. But the chances of putting roots down, as many of you have here in Sarnia, are less than they have every been.
So we have to recognize the thorns in our society which choke our faith. We need to also recognize the many manifestations of God’s grace in our lives, and try to share God’s grace with others, freely, extravagantly.
Perhaps the most encouraging message from this teaching of Jesus is that God’s grace is available to all of us if we seek it, wherever we are. Perhaps we have to overcome thorns to recognize it. Or go through some rocky times.
But we have the assurance that it is there. Thanks be to God.
Monday 11 July 2011
Tuesday 5 July 2011
Many Blessings for Canada
Homily Canada Day Weekend 2011
With all the attention Will and Kate are attracting with their visit this week, we are reminded of the far reaching impact, and awareness of the British Monarchy, even in the 21st century, when its power is purely symbolic.
Symbols are important. And some of the attention to the Royals can rub off even on Anglican clerics. Of course many of us can recall where we were in 1981 when Prince Charles married Diana Spencer. It was THE Royal Wedding of the century—with hundreds of millions of people watching all over the world.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, then Robert Runcie, officiated. When Runcie came to Canada to visit I recall him telling the story at St. James Cathedral in Toronto about a visit to a remote part of China after the wedding, where he was greeted like a rock star. The faces of the people lit up.
How he wondered could Chinese peasants recognize the Archbishop of Canterbury. The answer came from the people themselves, smiling at him saying “Royal Wedding, Royal Wedding.”
So symbols are important, and so is our national holiday, which has a special set of lectionary readings which I am using this Sunday.
Canada is a remarkable nation, peaceful throughout its history apart from a few skirmishes, and involvement in foreign wars in support of freedom and democracy.
When the prophet Isaiah speaks of Kings reigning in righteousness and princes with justice he was setting out the ideals which we should live by in our communities and nations.
God wants us to live in peace, in secure dwellings in quiet resting places, as prophet wrote.
What is so remarkable about Canada is that people from so many lands have come to live in our vast country, which is so rich in beauty and resources. My grandparents on my father’s side came from England in 1912 with nothing. My grandfather worked as a sleeping car conductor on the CPR.
Dad was the first in the family to go to university, but only after he earned the Veteran’s grant of either land or free tuition after serving in the army as a pay sergeant during world war two.
He became a teacher, and would have been proud to see his granddaughter graduate from University to Toronto with a Bachelor of Education last month.
So Canada has been a land of opportunity for my family and for many families. It hasn’t been easy. Some of you have vivid memories of the great depression in the 30’s.
But peace, compromise and community life have characterized our growth as a nation. We don’t have the same extreme of wealth and poverty as our neighbours to the south. Nor do we have the nastiness of the current political climate in the US.
We do have different values, more communal values.
That’s where Paul’s letter to the Colossians speaks to us—we are called as Christians to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, meekness and patience.
Canadians are sometime mocked when we demonstrate these values.
And above all we need to act out of love, and to be thankful for the gifts God has given us, as a nation, as provinces, as communities, as families, as individuals.
And Paul notes, we need to be forgiving, as we have been forgiven.
That’s hard sometimes. But the bitterness which continues in the absence of forgiveness can separate us not only from others but from God.
This passage concludes with important reminder about our worship. And it’s something we sometimes can forget. When we gather to teach, to pray, to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to God—we need to do so with gratitude in our hearts, giving thanks to God.
On Canada Day Pat Harrison sent me a wonderful slide show via e-mail which had stunning photographs of many different parts of Canada.
In a way its overwhelming to think of the beauty of this vast country which God created and we are fortunate enough to live in. I’ve had the privilege to travel to all ten provinces, and worship in Anglican churches in all of them.
Living in three provinces--Alberta, Manitoba and my native Ontario--has given me an understanding of the diversity of this country---but also some of the things shared in common.
We have a lot to give thanks for. Easier travel in the past century has made people more aware not only of our own country, but the world.
We are amazed by the world’s diversity and what it has to offer, despite all its problems.
Yet when we come home to Canada, we realize how fortunate we are, blessed by our history of peace and democracy, our bountiful resources, our diverse population from many lands.
And for that we give God thanks!
With all the attention Will and Kate are attracting with their visit this week, we are reminded of the far reaching impact, and awareness of the British Monarchy, even in the 21st century, when its power is purely symbolic.
Symbols are important. And some of the attention to the Royals can rub off even on Anglican clerics. Of course many of us can recall where we were in 1981 when Prince Charles married Diana Spencer. It was THE Royal Wedding of the century—with hundreds of millions of people watching all over the world.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, then Robert Runcie, officiated. When Runcie came to Canada to visit I recall him telling the story at St. James Cathedral in Toronto about a visit to a remote part of China after the wedding, where he was greeted like a rock star. The faces of the people lit up.
How he wondered could Chinese peasants recognize the Archbishop of Canterbury. The answer came from the people themselves, smiling at him saying “Royal Wedding, Royal Wedding.”
So symbols are important, and so is our national holiday, which has a special set of lectionary readings which I am using this Sunday.
Canada is a remarkable nation, peaceful throughout its history apart from a few skirmishes, and involvement in foreign wars in support of freedom and democracy.
When the prophet Isaiah speaks of Kings reigning in righteousness and princes with justice he was setting out the ideals which we should live by in our communities and nations.
God wants us to live in peace, in secure dwellings in quiet resting places, as prophet wrote.
What is so remarkable about Canada is that people from so many lands have come to live in our vast country, which is so rich in beauty and resources. My grandparents on my father’s side came from England in 1912 with nothing. My grandfather worked as a sleeping car conductor on the CPR.
Dad was the first in the family to go to university, but only after he earned the Veteran’s grant of either land or free tuition after serving in the army as a pay sergeant during world war two.
He became a teacher, and would have been proud to see his granddaughter graduate from University to Toronto with a Bachelor of Education last month.
So Canada has been a land of opportunity for my family and for many families. It hasn’t been easy. Some of you have vivid memories of the great depression in the 30’s.
But peace, compromise and community life have characterized our growth as a nation. We don’t have the same extreme of wealth and poverty as our neighbours to the south. Nor do we have the nastiness of the current political climate in the US.
We do have different values, more communal values.
That’s where Paul’s letter to the Colossians speaks to us—we are called as Christians to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, meekness and patience.
Canadians are sometime mocked when we demonstrate these values.
And above all we need to act out of love, and to be thankful for the gifts God has given us, as a nation, as provinces, as communities, as families, as individuals.
And Paul notes, we need to be forgiving, as we have been forgiven.
That’s hard sometimes. But the bitterness which continues in the absence of forgiveness can separate us not only from others but from God.
This passage concludes with important reminder about our worship. And it’s something we sometimes can forget. When we gather to teach, to pray, to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to God—we need to do so with gratitude in our hearts, giving thanks to God.
On Canada Day Pat Harrison sent me a wonderful slide show via e-mail which had stunning photographs of many different parts of Canada.
In a way its overwhelming to think of the beauty of this vast country which God created and we are fortunate enough to live in. I’ve had the privilege to travel to all ten provinces, and worship in Anglican churches in all of them.
Living in three provinces--Alberta, Manitoba and my native Ontario--has given me an understanding of the diversity of this country---but also some of the things shared in common.
We have a lot to give thanks for. Easier travel in the past century has made people more aware not only of our own country, but the world.
We are amazed by the world’s diversity and what it has to offer, despite all its problems.
Yet when we come home to Canada, we realize how fortunate we are, blessed by our history of peace and democracy, our bountiful resources, our diverse population from many lands.
And for that we give God thanks!
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