“And he [Jesus] taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: ‘Listen!  A sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.  Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it had not much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil; and when the sun rose it was scorched, and since it had no root it withered away.  Other seed fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain.  And other seeds fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.’  And he said, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear.’”  --Mark 4:2-9, RSV

            After telling this parable to “a very large crowd” (4:1), Jesus then interprets the meaning of the parable for his hearers.  The point is that the seed, which represents “the word” (4:14), winds up in various places and usually does not produce fruit.  “Satan” (4:15), “tribulation and persecution” (4:17), “the cares of the world, and the delight in riches, and the desire for other things” (4:19) can cancel the transforming power of the word that has been spoken.  Indeed, according to Jesus’ teaching, these problems very often arise and stop the word’s progress.  Therefore, it is a miracle -- a real miracle! -- when the word finds fertile hearts/minds/lives, roots deeply, transforms lives for the long term, and results in good works.
            During Lent 2004, let us never take God’s transforming word for granted.  Let us give thanks to God that his word has been spoken to us and lived in exemplary ways before us and nurtured us.  And let us serve his word, so that others might hear, so that some might in the end produce lots of fruit.

            O God, give us the courage to trust your word.  Lead us to help those who are new to the faith, new to the Church.  And while giving us patience to endure with the mysteries of falling away and unbelief, keep us faithful in witnessing to the Gospel and in encouraging others to believe.  Through your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray.  Amen. 

--Paul T. Stallsworth