Sowing the Seeds of Shared Ministry

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 10 Year A)

Matthew 13.1-9, 18-23

St. Thomas of Canterbury, Long Beach

 

We know that Jesus was fond of using parables to convey his teachings—the central truths about who God is, the nature of God’s kingdom, and our place within that kingdom. By all indications, this was a pretty effective method of teaching. Primarily because Jesus provided teachings about some great unknowns using images that were very well known to the people—images from their daily lives, images that they could relate to. Something that they could relate to more readily than weighty theological concepts. And since these teachings were told in short stories, they were easier for the people to remember. Now, admittedly, the messages Jesus sought to convey were not always readily understood by his audience. But then again, this was part of the learning process. As any teacher knows, you do not just spoon feed information to those being taught. There may be some of that, but in order for the student to really learn and internalize the information, they need to work with it. Struggle with it to more fully understand what is being taught. To find ways to make it their own. Thereby allowing it to take root in their own lives.

 

Now, we don’t know if during his teaching sessions, if following the telling of parables, Jesus did Q&A sessions. Providing an opportunity for people to ask their questions and seek clarification and greater understanding. Regardless, for us, 2,000 years removed from the original telling, we do not have that opportunity. The vast majority of the time, we are left to struggle with these parables on our own. To try to figure out just what his real message is based on context. Not so with today’s “Parable of the Sower.” As we heard, Jesus tells this parable to a large crown on the beach. Later on, when he is alone with his disciples, Jesus takes the opportunity to explain exactly what he meant in telling this parable. Which indicates that even those closest to him were not always clear on the concept.

 

Jesus makes it very clear—to the disciples and to us—that in this parable, the sower is the one who proclaims the Word of God. The implication being that, in the parable, that would be Jesus or his disciples or anyone charged with proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel. That being the case, the seeds are the Gospel message. And the ground—four types of which are identified—are those who are the potential recipients of the preached message, of the Good News of the Gospel. And Jesus even goes on to explain just what each of the four types of soil mean—how there are four different ways in which the preached message is generally received. Or not. Clear enough.

 

Jesus has just made the job of future preachers that much easier. He’s given the outline. Not something normally handed to us on a silver platter. You could almost just let Jesus’ words speak for themselves. And yet, even in our own time, we need more than just the message Jesus provides. As with his original teaching methods, we need to find ways of making his message our own.

 

Given the fact that this Sunday is a “pulpit swap” between St. Thomas of Canterbury and St. Gregory’s, and given our joint efforts over the last couple of years at identifying and engaging in opportunities for shared ministry between our two congregations, the direction of preaching for today became pretty obvious. At least to me. And, as it turns out, to Mother Sharon, as well. And no, Mother Sharon and I did not plan our pulpit swap to coincide with this Gospel lesson. It was purely God’s delightful sense of humor at work. Which seems to make the subject of our shared ministry all the more appropriate as our contemporary example of this Gospel reading.

 

As a recap, you all know that, even before the pandemic started, Mother Sharon and I were starting to look at ways that St. Thomas and St. Gregory’s might do some things together. Given that we are both smaller congregations, neither of us have the resources to do some of the things we might want to. But together, we might just be able to. Combined services for special occasions. Coming together for occasional social activities. Possibly sharing some other ministry opportunities. And more behind the scenes opportunities, such as Mother Sharon and I covering for each other when necessary on our days off, as well as using St. Gregory’s parish administrator to ease the burden on Mother Sharon when it comes to things like making reservations for shared events and copying of bulletins. And throughout, our guiding principle is that all this would be done in ways that are sensitive to and in recognition of the unique cultures and identities of our two congregations. For your clergy—Sharon and I—this is about how to best use our respective gifts, talents, and resources, to benefit and strengthen our two congregations, individually and collectively. To make St. Gregory’s the best it can be, and to make St. Thomas of Canterbury the best it can be. The idea of doing shared ministry was formalized in a meeting with Bishop Taylor in September 2021 and formally launched at our respective annual meetings in 2022. Since then, Mother Sharon and I, in partnership with the wardens from both congregations, have continued to work to implement various shared ministry opportunities and to brainstorm new ideas for expanding our shared ministry.

 

As we continue our efforts, as we continue to try new opportunities, as we continue to come up with other possibilities, we can learn a few things from our Gospel reading for today. In today’s parable, as related to our shared ministry, the sower is our collective efforts at trying different ministry opportunities. The seeds are those ministries and worship activities we think might be good things to at least try. And the soil types, as in the parable, are how those opportunities, those proposed activities, are received. Which, again, as in the parable, is key to the whole endeavor. So, let’s briefly look at these ways our efforts might be—and in some cases, have been—received.

 

The seed falling on the path and eaten up by birds is an image for those proposals in which there is no interest. Period. Those things that Mother Sharon and I think might be a possiblity, but which are outright rejected as not being that good of an idea, or at least not one that is in keeping with who we are, or with where we are at present. Which is okay. Not everything we come up with will be of interest.

 

The seed falling on rocky ground that spring up quickly but do not take root is an image for those proposals that may sounds good on the surface. That might have possibilities, and yet are a little iffy (or rocky) for some reason. As a result, not many of our parishioners are willing to put in the effort. Such proposals may endure for a short time, but then other priorities take over and they are soon forgotten or abandoned. These things happen. You never know unless you try.

 

The seed falling among thorns and are choked out is an image for what is one of the most pervasive causes of programs dying in any church. Due to naysayers. Or, as we so often hear in the Episcopal Church, “we’ve never done it that way.” Congregations become so entrenched in an established way of doing things that there is an unwillingness to try something new and different. More often than not, this attitude can be based on fear. Fear of change. Which is understandable. But, at the same time, the inability or unwillingness to change has its own consequences, as the parable shows. Of all the possible types of reception, this is perhaps the most insidious, as it shuts down possibilities without giving them a real chance. As the old saying goes, “try it; you just might like it.”

 

And then there is the seed that falls on rich and fertile ground that allows things to take hold and become an established part of what we do. Those programs and ministries that grow and thrive and become a part of our parish cultures. That have the potential to become part of our collective memory – eventually reaching the point of “we’ve always done it that way.” Ideally, this is what we are shooting for. To identify those programs and ministries that there is a lot of energy around, on the parts of both our congregations. Those opportunities that our people are excited to participate in. Those opportunities that exemplify our shared ministry opportunities, and in turn help to further define who St. Thomas is and who St. Gregory’s is.

 

Of course, rarely do we find perfect soil, perfect conditions for optimal growth. Invariably we will run across rocks and other impediments that need to be moved out of the way, thorns that need to be removed. And not everything we try will yield wildly fantastic results of a hundredfold or sixtyfold or even thirtyfold. In fact, Jesus implies this in the way he specifies four types of soil. Of the four, only one produces any meaningful and lasting results. The way Jesus lays it out, three-quarters of the efforts do not produce results. Not necessarily scientifically or statistically accurate, but the point being, success takes work. It takes perseverance. On the part of all of us. The more we try, the more likely that something will take root and grow into something beautiful and lifegiving.

 

The Gospel lesson does not present a rosy picture that everything we try will take hold and produce abundant results. Not everything we do will survive or continue. That is reality. And that’s okay. The important thing is that we continue to try. That, too, is part of the Gospel lesson. Jesus does not present a parable about only planting in ideal conditions. Sowing seed in all types of soil indicates optimism. Because we never know what will actually take hold and produce results. Not until we try. And if it doesn’t work or take hold, we don’t have to do it again. But if it does, then there is always the possibility that, over time, with a little effort on our part, with a lot of support from our parishioners, and with God’s help, our efforts will yield results beyond our wildest imaginations. Providing bountiful blessings to both St. Thomas and St. Gregory’s.