“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”
When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,
“‘though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.’[a]
though hearing, they may not understand.’[a]
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop."
I love coming back to this parable time and again. I love how many agricultural parables and analogies Jesus uses- because plants and people are both things that live and grow. We can learn a lot from the simple design of plants and how there are a lot of similarities between spiritual growth and plant growth. I was reminded of this walking along a trail recently. As summer is coming, the underbrush is leafing out- and what once were clear view paths in the winter are revealing their vibrant leafy views instead. I think I tend to look past it all usually- but the detail of the woods was more recently put on my heart. What I usually notice are the trees- they are steadfast, established, tall... they stand out. What God brought to my attention is all that is on the ground surrounding them... vines, understory bushes and scrubbiness, plants growing into one another where it isn't sure where one ends and the next begins.
It brought me back to this parable- where the goal is to become a well established, well rooted, growing plant. But each of those trees that are so tall now once started as a tiny seed which came to that location somehow, it took root and it grew. It overcame the plants surrounding it- was able to get its required water and nutrients- and it grew. It didn't get that big over night- but over a lifetime. BUT just because it was in good soil and reached a certain point did not mean it was smooth sailing. Still there are vines that grow and try and tear it down even after its established. And some trees do get taken down by such vines. It is a constant battle even in a place that seems so serene and peaceful- but looking at these tall pillars, these trees; it is also an encouragement to continue to fight and not let yourself be overcome by all the things around you that would try to tear you down and take away from your life and your goals. I would rather be a tree seeking and reaching towards the divine, than a vine that tangles and can tear down. I am glad God gives us nature to reveal such complexities of human life in a simple, visible nature lesson.
