Today’s gospel was part of the Gospel for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time but it is noteworthy that there was a shorter and a longer option. The shorter included the parable only, while the longer version included our gospel for today – an explanation of the parable.
In the normal reading of the Parable of the Sower we typically associated the sower with God the Father or Jesus; the seed with the Word of God, and the soil with the person or the person’s receptivity. But listen again to the opening words of the gospel/explanation: “Hear the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who…” Did you catch that? “The seed sown…is the one who…” That phrasing is repeated three more times.
Think about it. We are already in the hand of Jesus, imbued with his Grace, and then sent into the world – free will and all. And we make choices that position ourselves on pathways, on rocky ground, among the thistles, or in good soil. (a) We have the Word and Sacraments, but we never take the time to understand and love them (b) We receive the Word and Sacraments with great joy, but at some point, that joy is lost. Maybe it became less than cool to be known as faithful or holy. Maybe socially cumbersome. The joy is gone. (c) Perhaps one simply heard the siren’s call of luxury, wealth, power, and privilege. Or the worries of modern life became distracting or overwhelming. (d) Or despite all these things, we are intentional about our journey of faith in the midst of modern living.
Your feet are in some kind of soil. Take a look. Don’t like what you see? Know that Jesus and the Word of God are with us – in the Eucharist and in the Scriptures – in the power of the Holy Spirit moving among us. Today we can make new choices. You can move to new soil. And in the move, learn anew how God is creating and molding us, tilling the soil of our lives, uprooting thistle and weeds, and preparing us to choose life. It’s your feet, your choice. It’s your life. Choose well.
Image credit: “The Sower” Vincent van Gogh (June 1888), Van Gogh Museum, Public Domain