Fruitful

“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 has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along 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 he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he 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 deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” Matthew 13:18-23

It's Halloween, the eve of All Saints' and there are pumpkins everywhere. I have always delighted in carving pumpkins and also worried at the waste of good, healthy fruit. Because pumpkins are relatively expensive in Sitka, we chose to leave the pumpkin whole and roast it after Halloween for eating, along with toasting the seeds. Using what we have been given is an awesome responsibility.

Jesus explained the parable of the sower. Folks must have looked completely baffled at the end of the story telling. Who am I, they wondered? They were given a choice really, as we are. We can be good soil, faithful and strong, and understand the call to respond to God's word. God's activity is to plant love and compassion deep in our souls, and it is our choice how to live with that. Will we share it and grow God's love and compassion? We are invited to be good dirt and good gardeners, tending to that which we have been given. We are called to be stewards, caretakers of God's love and mission in this world.

On this Halloween, I ask God to help me be a good steward of all of God's blessings. May our lives be rich soil and constant faith, so that the world might know the abundance and love of God. May we choose to be servants of God's word today in a world aching to hear a word of love today.