July 17th - Reflection

Luke 8:4-10 (NRSV)
Jesus speaks in parables

When a great crowd gathered and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold." As he said this, he called out, "Let anyone with ears to hear listen!"

Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to others I speak in parables, so that
'looking they may not perceive,
and listening they may not understand.'

Reflection
Do you ever wonder if you fall into the group of people that look and don't perceive and listen but may not understand? Sometimes, I feel like I am in this group.

But then usually something actually happens in life to create a parable of my own that helps to give direction and guidance. I could be in some good soil, but the thorns grow and influence my life and choke out the meaning and guidance of the Word. Other times, I fall on the hardened path that has been worn down in sin and the soil won't allow growth at all. And then at other times I just fall on the rock of my own selfishness and greed and die to myself.

As I live through these experiences in life, I look back on those times when God was giving me growth in the Spirit and I see the rich soil of grace and love.

Perhaps, I can be the one to prepare the soil for another person through the tilling of the soil. Perhaps, I can be the one to weed out the hunger and illness present in the life of another. Or, perhaps, God has called me to go out to those rocky places in this world and provide a home for those without.

There are times that I am in the wrong soil and there are times that God has called me to prepare the soil in love for God's children. All in joy and thanksgiving, I respond to this love, through Jesus Christ, my and your Lord and Savior. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, no matter where I land, or where you call me to go, prepare me to grow and serve how you would have me grow and serve...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen