2.15.24 - Mark 4:2a - 4, 10-11a, 14

How can you sow God’s liberating Word with a joyful invitation into mutual relationship? How can you prepare yourself to receive good news from unexpected sources today?

While teaching [the crowd], Jesus said, “Listen to this! A farmer went out to scatter seed…”

When they were alone, the people around Jesus, along with the Twelve, asked him about the parables. He said to them, “...The farmer scatters the Word…” 

The beauty of parables is that they demand discussion, invite interpretation.

I struggle with the “parable of the sower” because it’s one of the few that Jesus explains in detail. Aaaand he waits till only his closest friends are around to do so.

Christians frequently fall into the trap of believing we’re privy to insider information, that we enjoy extra special favor from God. We get smug; we forget that all humanity is made in the Divine image, all Creation overflows with Divine love.

I don’t know why Jesus waits till the crowd leaves before unraveling this parable. Maybe he prefers leaving it open to interpretation, so that they have to puzzle it out together — but he knows the disciples, his “farmers,” need clear instructions.

Regardless, what stands out to me in this parable is that the farmer sows the Word not just on good soil, but everywhere — on the path, on rocky soil, among brambles. There is no scarcity of Word! We aren’t called to be miserly about whom we share it with; we are called into loud, joyous, generous extravagance! 

For it’s often the case that the very people we assume don’t want or “deserve” God’s Word, God’s goodness, God’s liberation, already have it — and are ready to share it with us.

How can you sow God’s liberating Word in your daily life — not arrogantly, not pressuring others to adopt your personal beliefs, but with a joyful invitation into mutual relationship? How can you prepare yourself to receive God’s Word from sources you might not expect? 

--Avery Arden