5 Pentecost: July 13, 2014:
Sower what?
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Today we will approach the gospel reading a little differently. First of all, I ask you to put down
your bulletins and just listen to the gospel reading as I tell it for you. Don’t read along. If you are
an oral/aural learner you'll like this. If you like to learn visually, by seeing things in print, it will
be a harder for you. But I'll at least spell out oral/aural for your mind's eye: a u r a l / o r a l.
Again, here's what we will do: you'll put your bulletins down — your visual aids away, that is —
and I'll tell you the gospel. To keep it fair, I won't use printed visual aids either. So you will be
doing what the first ones to know this gospel of Matthew did; those first audiences heard it, they
did not read it. In fact the first century the literacy rate was very small. So you'll be doing what
Jesus's audience did as well, you will listen to the story, the parable, as they did; hearing, not
reading.
Here goes:
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2Such great crowds gathered
around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach.
3And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he
sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5Other seeds fell on
rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no
depth of soil. 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they
withered away. 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some
thirty. 9Let anyone with ears listen!"
What did you hear? What did you notice? What stood out for you? Hey — no fair peeking into
your bulletin — besides, there aren't any right or wrong answers. Take a little time and chat with
your neighbors. I'll be back in a minute and I'll tell the gospel again and you'll have another shot
at hearing it and thinking about. There now; what did you hear? What did you notice? What
stood out for you? Discuss a little…
Thanks for playing along. All told again and will address those same questions again. What did
you hear? What you notice? What stood out for you? Now it's your time. If you have any
answers for those questions, or maybe any observations on those questions this would be a good
time to discuss them. Go ahead, take a little time.
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5 Pentecost: July 13, 2014:
Sower what?
Now, do you have any questions for me? Take them now or as they come up as I go along. You
could just ask me — interrupting is just fine with this kind of sermon. And not saying I'll have all
the answers, but I'd love to have some discussion… But see where it leads us.
Now if you finally take a look at your reading you notice that there is more than I recited for you.
Actually there are some verses missing in the reading that you see in your bulletin. We started
with Matthew 13:1 – 9. That's the first part of the reading that I recited for you and what you
have in your bulletin continues with Matthew 13:18 – 23. You'll notice that there's a gap between
verse nine and verse 18. The missing verses are an explanation of why Jesus talks in parables.
The word parable means to "throw alongside" which is very appropriate in our context of
throwing seeds and such. Parables are stories that invite comparison. And it is a well-known
observation that when something in a parable seems simple and clear there is usually much more
than the simple explanation to understand. It's like looking at an iceberg; much more lies under
the surface than what you can see on top.
The next part of our reading today in your bulletin ( it is verses 18 to 23) function as an
interpretation of the parable. Most biblical scholars think that verses 18 to 23 were added later,
by the writer of Matthew’s gospel or perhaps leaders in the faith community. For me, the
explanation is less powerful than the parable. But it is pretty clear, at least for a parable. Here it
is:
Hear then the parable of the sower. 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not
understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was
sown on the path. 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word
and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a
while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately
falls away. 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the
cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23But as for what
was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears
fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
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One of the most powerful observations that for me in studying this parable is the idea that we can
be all of the types of soil from moment to moment, from day-to-day, from season to season, from
year-to-year. I certainly feel that way.
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5 Pentecost: July 13, 2014:
Sower what?
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We can sometimes be good soil. We can sometimes be rocky soil. Our faith can sometimes be
choked out by the daily weeds of all that goes on around us.
And yet this sewer keeps on casting seed, willy-nilly it seems. But isn't that good news for us, we
who may need to be reseeded from time to time?
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5 Pentecost: July 13, 2014:
Sower what?
Prayer of the Day (ELW)
Almighty God,
we thank you for planting in us the seed of your word.
By your Holy Spirit help us to receive it with joy,
live according to it,
and grow in faith and hope and love,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Prayer after Communion
We thank you, Lord of heaven and earth,
that you have fed us in a way our hearts can understand,
with the saving body and blood of Jesus Christ.
Enliven us by your presence in this meal,
that we may be your presence in the world,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
Sending of Communion
Gracious God,
loving all your family with a mother's tender care:
As you sent the angel to feed Elijah with heavenly bread,
assist those who set forth to share your word and sacrament
with those who are sick, homebound, and imprisoned.
In your love and care, nourish and strengthen
those who will receive this sacrament,
and give us all the comfort of your abiding presence
through the body and blood of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
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5 Pentecost: July 13, 2014:
Sower what?
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Prayers of Intercession
Strengthened by the Spirit who gives us words to speak and hearts that care, let us bring our
hopes and needs to God who listens.
A brief silence.
Merciful God, you give your word to guide, correct, teach, and inspire. Draw us into your story,
and give us wisdom, understanding, and obedient hearts as we follow your Son Jesus. Lord, in
your mercy,
hear our prayer.
The amazing cycle of birth, growth, and death sustains your creation. Bring forth an abundant
harvest, keep farmers safe, and teach us to cherish life in all its forms and stages. Lord, in your
mercy,
hear our prayer.
In places of war, bring peace, and in places of hatred, sow love. Help world leaders set aside
their prejudices, put down their weapons, and work together for the good of all people. Lord, in
your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We live in a land of plenty, and still there are those without enough to eat. Give us generous
hearts to those who are hungry. Bless the hands of those who work so that others might eat.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Raise up leaders for your church who will tend to your harvest. We lift up seminaries and church
colleges, bishops and synod staffs, Lutheran World Relief and the Lutheran World Federation, as
they live out their callings to serve. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Healing God, strengthen and heal those who are hurting or ill; grant perseverance and health to
those who are facing extended recovery to the fullness of life, especially Judy Gatske and Judy
Wendt. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Here other intercessions may be offered.
Bless the memory of those who now worship at your eternal throne (especially Chris, Milly
John, Pastor Ken, Pastor Michael and those we name out loud or in our hearts) and bless those
who worship in hopeful expectation of your eternal kingdom. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We lift our prayers to you, God of mercy, confident that all things are in your hands. In Jesus'
name we pray. Amen.
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5 Pentecost: July 13, 2014:
Sower what?
Gospel: Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23
In Matthew's gospel, both Jesus and his disciples "sow the seed" of God's word by proclaiming
the good news that "the kingdom of heaven is near." Now, in a memorable parable, Jesus
explains why this good news produces different results in those who hear.
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2Such great crowds gathered
around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3And
he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he
sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5Other seeds fell on
rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no
depth of soil. 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they
withered away. 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8Other
seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
9Let anyone with ears listen!"
Hear then the parable of the sower. 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not
understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was
sown on the path. 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word
and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a
while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately
falls away. 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the
cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23But as for what
was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears
fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
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