“And he [Jesus] told them many things
in parables, saying:
“Listen! A sower went out to sow. . .”
Matthew 13:3
We’re now in the heart of gardening season! The time of year when all of our hard work is hopefully paying off. Plants are growing strong, starting to blossom and offer food for nourishment. Flowers are blooming, showing off their bright colors and inspiring us. And this week our lectionary invites us to reflect on the parable of the sower. Since our Sunday service will focus on other scripture readings, I felt drawn to make this our mid-week devotional. So what wisdom does this parable offer us for today? For anyone that enjoys gardening, you know that these hot summer months is when weeding and watering play an important role. The care we offer (or don’t offer) affects the outcome of what grows. We started gardening when we first moved to PEI seven years ago, and love it! But, if I’m honest, we haven’t always done our best. Some years, we’ve been diligent at watering and weeding. Then there are the years when it was survival of the fittest!
What made it, were the plants that managed to survive in spite of us! Which reminds us that although there are many factors that aid in growth, when we nurture our gardens, and spend time caring for them, they do better. They thrive and grow to their fullest potential. And our parable notes this.
For those who may recall the parable, Jesus points out that when the sower sows the seeds, some fare better than others. Some are able to place roots in good soil, while others immediately are eaten by the birds. From the very beginning, the actions of the sower affects what is able to grow. Where the seeds are planted, how they’re cared for, matters. And the same is true for us. How we care for one another matters. When we nurture and share love,
life blossoms and grows. But when we are neglectful, or even abusive, that same life is cut down. Left to struggle and fight for survival on it’s own. As followers of Christ, we’re called to share the kingdom with others. But what does this look like? It looks like love. It looks like caring and listening. It’s helping one another grow and it’s journeying together in faith. As the old saying goes, “it takes a village to raise a child.” It takes a community sharing love, to help life to blossom and grow. And so, as we watch our gardens grow this season, may we play our part in also sowing love here in our
own communities. Where we help each other grow in faith and love, just as
Christ calls us to do, as we create God’s Kingdom here on earth.
God Bless, Rev. Tara Ann
Devotional written by Rev. Tara Ann Gourson, July 2020.
Bideford Pastoral Charge 