15th Sunday, Parable about the Parable of the Sower

 

Imagine the day Jesus taught the Parable of the Sower. The people were accustomed to Jesus teaching in parables about the kingdom of God because Jesus gave most of his teaching about the kingdom in parables. They would automatically compare themselves to the characters in the parable and see whom in the parable they were like. Everyone knew some seeds do not sprout, while some seeds produce a good crop. But what did Jesus mean by the Parable of the Sower?

Jesus Himself was sowing seed-while teaching about the kingdom of God. Some didn’t take His message and His words to heart and produced no fruit.

Others took His message to heart for some time, and then gave up and so produced only a little fruit. And some took His message to heart and produced an abundance of fruit.

Why is it some produce fruit for God's kingdom and others apparently not? Maybe it’s best to give a parable about the parable of the seed and the Sower.

There was once a farmer with four boys. The father wanted to increase the value of the ranch. They had all discussed whether to build a new larger barn, or to add onto the existing barn, or to tear down the barn and use the land to grow corn.

They could not come to an agreement, so the father, as head of the family, decided to make a decision. He decided it would be best to build a new barn. The father set out and with the help of his friends and neighbors completed the new barn.

But oldest son refused to help. He thought it would be best to build a granary instead, and then build the new barn. Even though many neighbors, and those in the community helped the farmer to build the barn donating their time and supplies for its completion, the oldest boy continued to complain after it was completed. He told his friends, “Look at that mansion my father built. What a waste of money. The money would have better spent on building a granary. If we would have built the granary first, we could have made more money before we built the barn.” The oldest boy was completely blind to the love and charity of the neighbors. He failed to see how the new barn brought together so many good-hearted people, as they worked for a common purpose. His constant complaining even after the barn was completed, became a source of division and caused some to become unhappy. The oldest boy is like the one in parable, whom the evil one came and stole away the love that was sown in his heart.

The second oldest boy began to help build the barn. But when his older brother complained and persecuted him, he stopped working and let the volunteers do the work. He wanted to tear down the barn and to grow corn on the soil. After it was built, he too complained and was blind to the charity of all the volunteers. He is like the one, who fell away when tribulation and persecution came.

The third son also agreed to help build the barn at first. That is, until he began to worry about the bills. He thought it would be best to sell the entire farm and take the money to buy himself a new home, a new car, and to travel the world. He is like the one in the parable of the Sower who hears the Word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and so he bears no fruit.

The youngest son heard what his father had to say and did not question it. He trusted his father and decided to work on the barn with the workers and volunteers. He saw how many people donated their time and talent, and treasure and even came in the evenings after getting off of their regular jobs, to help build his father’s new barn.

Because he saw the many who donated their time, talent and treasure, such as lumber, the paint, the lighting fixtures, the glass for the windows, and the trucks to carry the wood, his heart was touched and never once complained.

He decided to talk to his brothers to help them see what a remarkable thing which had occurred because of building the new barn. He gathered his brothers together and said, “Look, I’m the youngest of us brothers and my words don’t amount to much, because I am so young. But listen. Let me explain what has happened. You know the farmer across the road, who never would let us borrow his snow plow in the winter. He and his family came to help build father’s new barn. You should have seen how many people came to help. They worked hard all day at their regular jobs and then came to build the barn even to the late hours of night. Some donated wood, others glass for the windows, some even helped dig the hole to lay the foundation. And the ladies, they cleaned the new bar and cooked dinner for us each day.”

And what’s even most amazing; we all had fun and laughed together. Perhaps it was because we prayed together before we began to work each day. We all became one like one family, who loves each other no matter what. “Brothers, I ask you to see Jesus in your neighbor, and see the good hearts which built such a fine barn. Please come next week to see the barn and celebrate with us. Father is having a banquet. Why complain any longer, for the barn is now built, complaining can do no good, but cause dissension. Father says he forgives you and loves you and wants you to celebrate with us. Let us all be one happy family united together in love. For God is good-- and through many people---, He has done something truly marvelous.”

The three older brothers were astonished at their little brother’s words. When he spoke, he seemed to be sowing love within their hearts. And so they turned to him, and said, “My little brother, we are sorry, for it is true, it does no good to complain about something that has already been completed. Thank you for loving us enough to help us see what God has done in the hearts of so many good people. We will be there at the banquet as one family in joy and in unity.”

The youngest boy is like the one in the parable of the Sower, whom the seed fell on rich soil and who bore much fruit.

May our hearts be open to bear good fruit cultivated by love for God and neighbor. And may the Virgin Mary protect us from the enemy who wants to steal our joy, help us to persevere through persecution, turn away from worldly enticements, and rather than worrying, let us trust in God's plan for us.