Sowing Seeds

Again he began to teach beside the lake. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the lake on the land. He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.’ And he said, ‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’ When he was alone, those who were around him along with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, ‘To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables; in order that “they may indeed look, but not perceive, and may indeed listen, but not understand; so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.” ’ And he said to them, ‘Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word, but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. And these are the ones sown on the good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.’ Mark 4:1-20

This time of year, my hands are itchy and my searches are all about seeds, plants, and the garden to come. Snow is piled high and we had another storm last night. Today will be warm but the rest of the days this week will not. It will be some time before we can get planting, let alone sowing and germinating the seeds. We can only dream and plan at this time. It does remind me that our lives are seasons, times for growing, harvesting and waiting as well. I don't much like waiting, but it is this season, and, this season allows our hearts and minds, clarity and conviction. Jesus knew how easily we humans lose track of the goal to love and bear fruit. It takes so much work and dedication. And in the winter, waiting times, we have the opportunity to prepare our souls for the deep spiritual work of bearing fruit.

Wondrous Creator, you give us the four seasons

times for planting, harvesting and times of waiting

so we might come full circle to seek your love.

We often turn away when the season is harsh

we believe the snow or rain will rule us always

and we forget that you are preparing new life.

Help us to be ready to plant and tend once again

make our hearts gentle and pliable as warm soil

so we might grow and bear the fruits of your love. Amen.