Abundance

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. 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!’ Then the disciples came and asked him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’ He answered, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. The reason I speak to them in parables is that “seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.” With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says: “You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn— and I would heal them.” But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Matthew 13:1-16

It is often hard to feel like good soil in this season when folks are aching over decline and living with a sense of failure and great loss.  We can feel more like depleted soil with nothing left to give. Jesus told stories and then interpreted them to his followers, so we can understand how to live. We know ourselves, as the disciples did then, blessed and loved by God. Even in times of poverty and loss, we can give thanks for love's abundance. I have been ill for a few days, in hospital for a few more. Breakfast at home today with my beloved was a feeling close to heaven. May we all be good soil, despite our circumstances, so others might see and taste heaven's abundance.

Abundant Creator, source of all life

you designed the seasons for our teaching

show us how to live in many stories

and renew us even when we feel so depleted.

We too often reject you love for us

choosing instead to win and be the victor

only to find victory without love is empty

and abundant life comes only with sharing.

Lift us all up from any of our despair today

help us be renewed by your abundant love

let us be those who readily share your love

so all may be blessed in their times of woe. Amen.