Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Today’s text

Matthew 13:1-9

That same day, Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the shore, and he told them many things in parables. He said, 'Listen, a sower went out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up at once, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty Anyone who has ears should listen!'

Prayer

I give you thanks, almighty God, for the miracle of growth. Everywhere the seed you sow
is imperiled. Yet, I look into my soul and the souls of your beloved and find the wonder
of faith, the fire of hope, the beauty of love.

You say nothing about the sower. Is he anxious about the seed? Does she fear nothing
will grow and that her labor will be in vain, a chasing after the wind? Does he fear that
storms and infestation will destroy the crop before harvest?

No, you say nothing. This is like no farmer I have ever known, and I’ve known more than
a few.

You know what we struggle to believe: the power of your life is in the seed.

Believing this shouldn’t be a problem. A simple gaze into my own heart evokes enough
wonder to bring tears. For growing there is hope I did not plant, a love I did not create, a
faith in the gracious power of your life.

A simple gaze within reveals all I need to know. The seed you plant grows into the
harvest of the love you are. So we sow and rejoice in the miracle of a seed that grows.

Pr. David L. Miller