In today’s Gospel Jesus tells the story of a farmer who goes out to sow. He sows here, there, and everywhere. Jesus, of course, was not a farmer but a carpenter, “Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary…And they took offense at him.” (Mark 6:3). Jesus caused offense or scandal first because he was not an “official teacher” but a carpenter and second because he was teaching not only in the Jewish Synagogue and Temple but here, there, and everywhere.
Jesus compares his ministry to that of a farmer. In his time a farmer would first scatter the seed and then plow it under. What might seem wasteful or prodigal was actually common farming practice in Jesus’ day. What appears on the surface to be poor soil might turn out to be good once it was plowed under. In this way Jesus defends his mission to the outcasts, to tax collectors and sinners. They might seem on the surface not to be a fruitful field for his ministry but once they hear God’s message of mercy and compassion; once Jesus eats with them many turned out to be ready for repentance, for turning to God.
Jesus’ parables give us his vision of what the church and parish is called to be. We are called to follow the example of Jesus, to associate with “tax collectors and sinners.” We are called to welcome all, even the seemly irreligious. We welcome all into our churches that they may come to know and experience the mercy and love of God and hear the call to conversion. Before we as a church can call others to repentance, we need to call ourselves to repentance:
“Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5)
Jesus teaches us that we can learn about the ways of God from the ways of carpenters and farmers and from our daily endeavors. What is God trying to say to us today as we go about our daily tasks and routines.
Image: “Harvesting crops” by World Bank Photo Collection is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.