To read the texts click on the texts: 1 Tim 6:13-16; Lk 8:4-15
The text of
today combines both the Parable of the Sower (8:5-8) and the allegory (8:11-15)
{in an allegory, every element in the story is given a meaning. So, the seed is
regarded as the word of God, those along the path are the ones who hear, and
then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they
may not believe an be saved, and so on}. Though it is true that the Sower
disappears from the scene after he is first mentioned, and the seed takes
centre stage, the parable is really one of contrast between the beginning and
the middle, and the end. Thus, the Sower (whom the end will affect) is still an
important figure in the parable. Since many have confused the allegory with the
Parable, the meaning of the parable may have been missed. In this reflection we
will focus on the Parable.
The
farmer would sow along “the path”, because according to research done on the
agricultural practices in Palestine at the time of Jesus, the practice was to
sow seeds first and then plough it into the ground. Sowing on “rocky ground” is
not surprising because the underlying limestone, thinly covered with soil,
barely showed above the surface until the ploughshare jarred against it. Sowing
among “thorns” is also understandable, because this too will be ploughed up.
Though the ploughing of the three kinds of soil above will be done, it will
result in a loss, because in none of them will the seed grow. It will seem that
seventy-five percent of the effort is lost. While most of the parable focuses
on “sowing”, in the last verse it is already “harvest time”. The abnormal,
exaggerated tripling, of the harvest’s yield (thirty, sixty, a hundredfold)
symbolises the overflowing of divine fullness., surpassing all human measure
and expectations (A tenfold harvest counted as a good harvest and a yield of
seven and a half as an average one).To human eyes much of the labour seems
futile and fruitless, resulting in repeated failure, but Jesus is full of
joyful confidence; he knows that God has made a beginning, bringing with it o
harvest of reward beyond all asking or conceiving. In spite of every failure
and opposition, from hopeless beginnings, God brings forth the triumphant end,
which he has promised.
How
do I react when most of my effort seems to be in vain? Do I throw up my hands
in despair? Do I give up? Do I get despondent? Or do I carry on despite all
odds? Do I continue to persevere? Do I keep on keeping on?
How
attached am I to the result of my action? Can I plunge into the din of battle
and leave my heart at the feet of the Lord?
Write
down your response to this statement of St. Ignatius – “WHEN YOU WORK, WORK AS
IF EVERYTHING DEPENDS ONLY ON YOU YOY. WHEN YOU PRAY, PRAY AS IF EVERYTHING
DEPENDS ONLY ON GOD.”
Do
you sometimes act as the “General Manager of the Universe”? Will you resign
from that position today?
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