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.
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