A prayer in the garden

Albert Bogle February 19, 2023 2 1

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Matthew 13: 1-23 (NRSVA)

1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. 2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 Let anyone with ears listen!’

10 Then the disciples came and asked him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’ 11 He answered, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 13 The reason I speak to them in parables is that “seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.” 14 With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:

“You will indeed listen, but never understand,
    and you will indeed look, but never perceive.
15 For this people’s heart has grown dull,
    and their ears are hard of hearing,
        and they have shut their eyes;
        so that they might not look with their eyes,
    and listen with their ears,
and understand with their heart and turn—
    and I would heal them.”

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.

18 ‘Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When 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. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet 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. 22 As 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. 23 But 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.’

Jesus told the parable of the farmer who went out into the fields to sow his seeds. The point of the parable was that he went out in faith. As he scattered the seed it fell on different types of soil, and the outcome was related to the condition of the soil.

Jesus used this to explain why some people respond to the gospel and others don’t but what we can also learn from this parable is that the condition of the soil can change. And so can people. Someone who can’t respond because of the cares and trials they are facing can see things more clearly once the gardener has removed some of the undergrowth. Each year the gardener has to look over the garden and decide that perhaps a plant could do better if it was changed to another spot in the garden. Taking stock of our lives and responding to a change can lead to healthy growth in our spiritual lives.

PRAYER:

Lord,

It says in Scripture

Our lives are like a garden

We reap what we sow

Help me sow well this season

Come walk with me

Down memory lane

In the garden of my life

Help me put this garden in order

So many dead leaves

Borders overgrown

Weeds sprouting up

Plants needing TLC

Help me take stock

Advise me what I should plant

Show me the plants to move

And the plants that I should tend

Help me plan the for the harvest

Lord,

Prompt me into action

For I can be overwhelmed

by all that needs to be done

Show me the things I can do myself

And point out the things with which I need help

Today

I’m going to start tidying up

Sweeping up dead leaves

Spring is just around the corner

Lord bring my garden into life

And my life into the garden

So that I can learn how I can grow