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.” Matthew 13:1-9,18-23
There is something memorable and awesome when sitting on the beach hearing stories. Whether by the ocean, inland sea of lake, we seem to listen more closely and are transformed by the words said. We are drawn in by the deep darkness and the stars and can find ourselves completely inside of the story. Jesus shared parables or stories, and we tell them this time of year in the church. They are story-pictures, a way to remember the simple truth about the Creator's love for us and the challenges of living faithfully in the world. We are invited to be good soil today, to hear the words, take them in and out them into action in our lives.
Wondrous Creator, you set the stars above
and the good tender earth beneath our feet
filling us with stories of your love for us
and promising blessing after blessing.
Lord, make us good soil so we might be your people.
We are all distracted and head strong
thinking we know better than our elders
we dash around and crash about our world
and cry out when our earth is in deep trouble.
Lord, make us good soil so we might be your people.
When we cannot sing the birds sing for us
when we cannot shine the stars do their part
when we are broken and so very afraid
you lift up the sun to lighten our faces.
Lord, make us good soil so we might be your people.
Help us to seek you in the day and night
knowing you have always more to teach us.
Lord, make us good soil so we might be your people.
Strengthen us to be good solid soil
so that we might bring forth good fruit.
Lord, make us good soil so we might be your people.
Make us your people again dear Lord
so the earth might know your love again.
Lord, make us good soil so we might be your people. Amen.
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