Sunday, July 16, 2023

Seventh Sunday in Pentecost
Isaiah 55:10-13
Psalm 65:[1-8] 9-13
Romans 8:12-17
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

For as the rain comes down and the snow from the sky, and doesn’t return there, but waters the earth, and makes it grow and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so is my word that goes out of my mouth: it will not return to me void, but it will accomplish that which I please, and it will prosper in the thing I sent it to do.

San Antonio has a unique climate. We are subtropical, which means that we stay relatively mild throughout the year, although we definitely experience periods of extreme heat. We sit between a semi-arid region to the west and a much wetter and more humid area to the east. This means our weather is often varied depending on the influence of those other regions. We have periods of extreme rain and other periods of extreme drought which can last for years. Then, when the wet weather comes, we are inundated with so much water that everything floods.

One day a few years ago we got rain after a lengthy period of drought. The ground was dry and hard, the grass was dying. The lack of water had affected the wildflowers and the animal populations moved into the cities in search of water and food. The problem with rain that comes after a drought, especially if it comes down too fast, is that it doesn’t soak into the ground. It just rolls off into the streets and gullies. Every drop counts when the ground is so dry, and it eventually makes its way into the creeks and aquifer, but it does little more than wet the surface of our lawns. The few drops that make it into the dirt evaporate faster than it fell once the sun shines again. A good soaking rain is necessary for it to really make a difference.

Despite the negatives, that type of weather is a refreshing and positive change when everything is so dry. The temperatures go down, and the grass looks a little greener. The roads are washed clean of the dust and grime. There’s a new and pleasant smell in the air. The world around us is fresh and new. Yes, the water runs off, but it is not in vain. The rain still makes a difference, watering the earth and cleansing the land. It works its way into the aquifer that is our source of water, giving some relief to our fears. We are in a similar situation this year, anxiously hoping for the next storm that will help ease the drought. It will probably not come until the fall, but when it does we should have a period of healthy, land healing rain. Each storm will saturate the ground a little more and water the plants enough that we do not have to artificially water our lawn. When God sends rain, it is never in vain.

I don’t know about you, but I sometimes wonder if my witness for God is doing any good. It often seems like the words I speak just run off like a summer shower on parched earth. We might think that our words are unheard or that they do not reach beyond the surface. To us it often seems as though our witness is in vain because it doesn’t seem to make a difference in the world. We might see a bit of hope, but it soon dries up and disappears. We might think there is a glimmer of faith, but it quickly disappears as those to whom we have spoken face hard times or doubt.

God says that His Word will not be given in vain. We simply don’t know what it was meant to accomplish at that moment in time. We want to see a difference, to know that we have done a good thing, that our words sink deeply into the hearts of those to whom we speak. God knows, that is what matters, and sometimes the changes come very slowly. Sometimes the change comes so slowly that we never see it happen. But we can rest in the knowledge that God’s Word does not go back to Him void. We can live in joy knowing that our witness is planting the seeds or watering the fruit of what God is doing in the world.

Patience is not a virtue many of us possess. We also don’t enjoy having to struggle to see good things that will come. When I was a girl, my mother used to put my hair up in pink plastic rollers. These rollers made my hair very curly, but they were solid and prickly. To get a really good curl, my mother washed my hair in the evening, put my hair in the rollers and then I had to sleep with them on my head. My hair dried overnight and left behind beautiful curls. I had extremely blond hair, so I suppose I looked a lot like Cindy Brady from the television show “The Brady Bunch.”

I hated those curlers. It hurt as Mom rolled them because she often pulled too hard. It was impossible to find a comfortable position to sleep with those hard curlers on my head. Then, in the morning when it was time to take them out, the hair snagged on the prickly parts, unwilling to let go of the curler. Through it all my mother used to say, “We have to suffer for beauty.” I liked my curls, but I think I would have preferred straight hair than to suffer the pain of the curlers.

One of the most difficult aspects of Christian faith for a non-believer to accept is the idea of suffering. Paul wrote that we are joint heirs with Christ which is something we like very much. We like the idea that we have been adopted as children of God, that He is our Abba, Daddy. However, Paul also wrote that as joint heirs in the promise we share in every aspect of Christ’s reign, including His suffering. He wrote, “...if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.” People don’t want to worship a God that calls His people into a life of suffering, because for most people suffering equals pain, rejection, even death. Yet, it is in our suffering that we find strength, courage, and God’s grace. God is not a masochist who seeks to cause His people to be harmed. But to save the world He came in a manner by which He shared in our suffering and by the blood of Christ we are brought through that suffering to something greater.

We want immediate gratification. We want immediate answers and solutions. Yet sometimes it is better to be patient and wait. What good is a hope that is already received? It is no longer hope but fulfilled. There is then nothing to look forward to. Our hope rests in the fulfillment of the promises and we can be assured that those promises will be fulfilled because God is faithful. It is not helpful to have a year’s worth of rain in a day; showers are more helpful when they come over a period of time so that the water can soak into the ground and make a real difference.

We want God to finish this now. The work of Jesus is finished, why not just end it so that we can enjoy eternity now? That may seem ideal to us, after all we already enjoy the benefit of God’s grace, but what of those who still need the lifegiving word of God? Certainly eternal life is much better than the suffering we experience in this world, but we have so much more we can do the make a difference in the lives of those who have not yet heard the Gospel.

Unfortunately, patience for God’s time means we will face persecution and pain for our faith. And yet, as we live in the Spirit which we have received from God, we’ll wait expectantly along with all of God’s creation for that moment when He finally finishes the work He began in Christ Jesus. For now, we are the first fruits of that work, holy and dedicated to God so that others might see God’s grace in our faith and come to believe.

Not everyone will hear, or believe, or change, but that should not stop us from speaking God’s Word. We will feel as though our words are just running off into the gutter, not doing any good. We might feel like the seeds we plant are more like those that are sown on the roadside, in the rocky places, or among the thorns, but God’s Word is never spoken in vain, and it never returns to God void. God makes things happen we never expect.

When I was a preschool teacher, our regular spring activities included planting seeds. For one project we put some potting soil into a small paper drinking cup and then planted some flower seeds. This project was usually done so that the flowers would be growing for Mother’s Day. The other project is a little more amazing, and more helpful for seeing the growth of a plant. We put a wet cotton ball and a bean seed inside a plastic bag and taped it to the window. After just a few days the bean seed broke open and began to grow. The seed had everything it needed: soil (the cotton ball), water, and sunshine. Once the bean had “sprouted” we sent the plant home to be transplanted into real dirt. I don’t know how well these plants grow when put into the dirt, but it is fun to watch them grow in the bag.

I confess that I’m not a very good gardener. I saw a cartoon today that showed three frames with flowers. The first said something like, “Plants that will last one week $8.” The second, “Plants that will last one month $15.” The third, “Plants that will last three months $25.” I laughed and that was a good deal, although I’m not sure even the three-month plants would last; those well-established plants are beautiful for at least a little while. I certainly don’t start plants from seeds the way some gardeners do with their flower beds or food gardens. I am too impatient. Growing from seeds requires time; many seeds need to spend time in darkness of the earth to “die” so that they might sprout and grow.

There are other seeds that are different. Take grain, for example. Many crops are planted in fields in long rows. The plow turns up the dirt, the farmer lays down the seed in straight lines and then he covers the seeds with the dirt. Grain is not planted with such precision. The farmer turns up the dirt on the field and then scatters the seed with his hand or a machine. The farmer might rake the ground to keep the seed from blowing away, but it does not have to be buried under the dirt. This is certainly a much easier way to plant seed, especially since grain does not need much space to grow, but there are disadvantages.

When you scatter seed, you can’t control where every seed lands. I recently decided to create a natural butterfly garden in one area of our yard. We cut the grass really short, put a layer of compost, and then just scattered a bunch of wildflower seeds. I water the area regularly, and though I haven’t done anything, I have sunflowers and other wildflowers that are attracting bees and butterflies. The grass is still growing, the blooms are fading, and it doesn’t look like a landscaped garden, but I’m best when I let nature do the work.

A farmer has to plant seeds for his grain, but he does so like I did with the wildflowers. He just casts the seed across the field and hopes for the best. Most of the seed falls on the good soil, but even the most careful farmer will lose a percentage to the path, the rocks, and the thorns. This is what Jesus was talking about in the parable. It would be impossible for a farmer to plant every grain of wheat individually because it would be too time-consuming and impractical. The farmer considers the loss when he’s working in his field. Jesus compared the work of a farmer to the work of those sharing the Good News in the world. The seed is the Word of God. The soil is in the hearts of men.

There are times when we can plant one seed at a time, especially with people we know and love. I planted seeds in the heart of my children and others in my life. There is value to one on one evangelism. But we are hesitant about casting the seed of God like the farmer. I think sometimes we even try to witness only to those who are already well established, like the plants I buy with the hope of a few months of beauty. We are too afraid that we might insult or offend someone. We are too afraid that we’ll be rejected. We are too afraid that people will not receive the words we say or that we aren’t the right people to give it to them. We are imperfect, so we wonder how God could possibly use us to share His Word with the world. We don’t have enough knowledge of the Bible or of the message. We are afraid to waste a good word because we think it might fall on the path, the rocks or in the thorns to be devoured, whither or choked. We are too shy to scatter the seed, so we keep it to ourselves. We have a multitude of excuses.

But Jesus says to scatter the seed, because enough will fall on good soil. It is a matter of trust, trusting that God will make sure there is soil, water, and sunshine to make it grow. God’s Word never comes back to Him void, so your witness is never in vain.

It seems hard to believe how fast this summer is passing. Schools and teachers are already preparing for the upcoming school year. Our church is opening a new private school next month, and there are things we have to accomplish before the first day, like hiring teachers and ensuring that they are properly qualified for the work. This includes having First Aid Certification. During our last board meeting, we discussed the requirements as they are written in the employee handbook, along with the expectations for the teachers if something should happen with the children are in their care.

One of the first things you learn in a Red Cross Safety course is how to determine the nature of an injury. When someone gets hurt, it is very important to find out what is wrong before giving medical aid. The way a person is treated, and the outcome of the treatment depends on the caregiver’s ability to find the right problem and give the right care. Wrong treatment can turn a back injury into paralysis. A misdiagnosed problem can lead to even greater problems as the caregiver focuses on the wrong emergency. Lack of knowledge can be deadly if a person is allergic to something or if there are hidden health issues. Part of proper health care is being able to communicate with the patient. This is not always possible. Some accident victims are unconscious and cannot speak for themselves. Some simply don’t know what to say.

A child’s fall is certainly not the same as someone with life-threatening injuries, but any parent or teacher knows the frustration of dealing with a child who has hurt themselves. They react with intense emotions when they are hurt, and it is impossible to understand what is wrong. This is true of physical problems as well as emotional hurts. I’ve had to deal with children hysterical about something, thinking that they must be hurt but nothing is visible on their body. They scream so loud and so long that they can’t say anything, and they can’t even hear. It does not help when the caregiver becomes impatient with the child, angrily insisting the child stop the tears and talk so that he or she can know what is wrong. The more we insist a child talk, the more agitated they become. This is something the teachers may have to deal with.

In the Gospel passage, Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” A hurt child has ears, but they don’t have ears that hear. They only know that they are hurt, and they can’t hear anything that might help make them feel better. The people to whom Jesus was speaking may not have been screaming children, but they were often as deaf as a hurting child. They heard the words that Jesus spoke in His stories and sermons, but they did not really hear what He was saying. Jesus was sometimes very obvious in the message, giving the people very pointed and blunt information about His mission and ministry in the world, but they heard His words from their own understanding and experience. When Jesus talked of the Kingdom of God, they thought He was talking about the restoration of a Jewish independence when He was talking about a different kind of Kingdom.

That’s why Jesus used so many parables to teach the people about how to live as the people of God. Parables help us listen more deeply. We have to look at the story from a different perspective. We might know and understand the earth-bound concepts of the story, like in this one about planting seed, but we have to think more deeply about what it means in our daily lives. What is the seed? What is growing? What is the path, the rocks, and the thorns? Certainly, Jesus was not giving the people farming advice. He wasn’t a farmer and most of His listeners weren’t farmers. He was giving them a parable to help them see God’s Kingdom in terms that they would understand. But to understand, they really had to listen to what He was saying, not just the words He said. They needed ears to hear.

The text from Isaiah is familiar to us. The chapter begins with the call for those who are thirsty to seek God; He offers freely and abundantly everything that is His. In today’s passage, we are reminded that everything that comes from God is productive. God is actively involved in His creation, and He is faithful to His promises. His will shall be done; He will make certain it is. Isaiah tells us that God has promised that we will see cypress instead of thorns and myrtles instead of briers. In other words, instead of plants that are useless and damaging, God will make the world productive and useful.

It amazes me to think of all the people who heard Jesus speak, who saw Him face to face and looked into His eyes, and yet never believed. We have to consider, however, how we would have responded to Jesus if we were them. After all, He wasn’t teaching about a Kingdom like the one they expected. Would we have believed? Would we have understood? Would we have responded to His grace? A few did, but many did not. Would we have had ears to hear?

We hear today’s Gospel passage and think that we should be more careful about spreading the seed. We think we can guess where the seeds we scatter will grow, and we choose not to scatter seeds that we think will be rejected or that will be gobbled up, withered under the heat of the sun, or choked by the cares of the world. We don’t know. We never know what God has planned. God’s Word does not return to Him void, and so He invites us to share it with excessive generosity. We aren’t limited the way a farmer is limited. We don’t have to worry about whether our seeds will produce enough crops. We only have to scatter the seed and let God make it grow.

Chuck Olson was invited into a prison of two thousand prisoners to preach the Gospel. He carefully prepared a message to share with those who were lost in darkness and sin. About three hundred were expected to attend his speech, though he’d hoped for more. The prison was locked down several days before his visit, and when he arrived at the chapel there were only a few men waiting. They were all Christians. He was discouraged and was ready to just give the men a few words of encouragement.

Then he noticed a video camera, so decided to give the entire message in the hope that someone might see it. Later Chuck was told that the video would be aired to all the inmates. In the end, all the prisoners saw the video, not just once, but as many as a dozen times. Chuck trusted that God’s Word would accomplish the purpose for which it was sent, despite the disappointing circumstances he faced. He gave the whole Word even though he thought at first it might be a waste of time. All it takes is one seed to change a life. Sometimes we don’t even realize we are scattering His seed.

The psalmist reminds us that God created all things. His hand still moves the waters of the rivers and brings life to the fields. He saves us from ourselves, forgives our sins and shows us the ways of righteousness and truth. How can we go through any day, looking at the amazing things that God has done and not praise Him for His mercy and grace? I’ve seen some incredible things in my life, but God has His hand in it all. He is there in the times of war and the times of peace. He is visible in the beauty and in the pain. God deserves our thanks and praise for all He has done. Let us rejoice and sing today.

Our God is a great and awesome God. He is faithful and generous. So why aren’t we bolder with our witness? We are reminded by these scriptures that we are not alone as we witness for God; He has given us His Spirit and it is His Word we speak. There are those who do not have ears to hear; the people did not hear Jesus, either. There is no reason to stop casting the seed. We might speak to a thousand people and never see a single spark of faith, but that’s ok because God’s word doesn’t return to Him void. Seeds are planted with every witness. He will send the sun and the rain; He will send someone to tend the heart and others to bring in the harvest. It is never up to us to decide who should hear the Good News because God can and will make it accomplish exactly what He sent it to do. As Jesus promised, “What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word and understands it, who most certainly bears fruit and produces, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.”