Summer Homework Preached on June 17th, 2018 Scripture: Mark 4:26-34 I have heard many sermons and read many reflections on biblical stories, like the parables we read today. Typically the preacher or writer will explain that Jesus uses metaphors from the farming world, because the hearers of Jesus’ tales were simple folk: farm laborers and the like. It is as if Jesus actually had far more sophisticated analogies in his mind and he dumbed them down for the simple folk. And, I admit, for many years I’ve entertained this kind of thinking. But today, I am beginning to think of the parables of the seeds a little differently. I’m beginning to reflect on the deep wisdom of ancient farming methods and how they might relate to the stories we heard. I’m beginning to think that the fact that these stories focus on the seeds, the land and the elements needed to make them grow is the pointof the story. Coastal city dwellers like ourselves have largely grown away from the wisdom of farming over the generations. Few of us work the land any more. Mostly of us travel to work each day by mass transit or car. We work in offices, schools, universities, high tech medical facilities. In this part of the world we do not see many fields of grain. Our contact with agriculture is usually limited to growing plants and vegetables in our spare time, rather than daily tilling of the soil for a living. The food we eat is generally obtained from the Supermarket or the Farmers’ Market. Often we don’t know where is came from and how it got here. We don’t know who labored so that we might eat. We don’t know who and what suffered so the markets can offer the weekly special buys. We may feel very far from Jesus’ world of seeds and harvests. So, as we approach the two parables we heard today: the parable of the sower, and the parable of the mustard seed, let’s remind ourselves that we are totally dependenton the productivity of the land. The story of the seeds and harvest is actually very close to our daily lives and our daily bread. If the seed planted by the sower does not grow, we do not live. Let’s think about these particular plants. In the first parable, Jesus likens the kingdom of God to a sower scattering seed on the ground and leaving it to grow. That is all. He does not spend time fertilizing or tilling the ground. He does not worry that pests will destroy the grain, and spray it liberally with pesticide. He does not water the crop, weed the planting, or thin out the shoots when they appear. This sower simply scatters the seed on the ground and does nothing else but sleep and wake. In due course the ripe full head of grain may be harvested. In the second story, Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a mustard seed. He says that when this seed is sown in the ground it grows up into the greatest of all shrubs. This particular mustard plant is unusual – it puts forth great branches to shelter the birds and they can make their nests in its branches. This is no ordinary mustard plant. For now, we can see the common elements of the stories involve seeds that grow: a common enough occurrence. How quickly do weeds spring up in your own yard, without any help from you? And yet, this growth is a miracle of the created world. There are these ingredients:
The soil of the earth is not in the same condition it was when Jesus first told those parables of the seeds. Agronomist Wes Jackson says that “soil is as much a nonrenewable resource as oil.” [1]And we, humans, having been using up that resource. In the book “Grounded,” author Barbara Brown Taylor, says that “in the last century and a half the planet lost half its topsoil. American soil is disappearing at a rate 10 times the rate at which it can be replenished … in China and India the erosion rates are 30 to 40 times faster.” [2] Besides the erosion of topsoil, widespread use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers have depleted the soil and killed off important species.Fertilizers are needed because the same crops are grown, continually on the same land. Yet, ancient farmers knew that soil needs time to recover after producing. Resting the land is prescribed in the Hebrew laws of Sabbath, Wayne Muller writes: “Hebrew practice of Sabbath included honoring the Sabbath year, when people refrained from planting, sowing seed or harvesting crops. During this fallow time … the community relied upon whatever grew in the fields of its own … a dramatic reminder that it was not their work alone, but rather God and the earth who fed them.” [3] In our modern world we are unwilling to rest and let ourselves recover from being productive. It’s no wonder we will not let the land recover either. We have tried to keep up with human growth and demands for an inexpensive food supply by outsourcing production to vast farmlands in the middle of our country. Sadly, this has separated us from our food sources, and allowed us to turn a blind eye to unsustainable practices. And yet, Barbara Brown Taylor notes that many people are coming back to the ground, drawn back to the benefits of gardening. Parents are enjoying teaching their children the pleasures of sowing, tending and harvesting. Residential facilities for the elderly are introducing gardens for residents to tend as a productive and meaningful activity. We are even learning that contact with the soil – actually putting our hands into it – is beneficial for our health. Many churches are turning outdoor space into community gardens. First Congregational Church in Stoughton MA, where I did my first field education year, has created a sustainable garden on church land. They grow vegetables for local food banks and pantries. It’s a wonderful community activity and sends a very positive message to the church’s neighbors and passersby. Now, I have to admit I am not much of a gardener. I was able to grow just about anything in England. The soil was full of earthworms, there was plenty of rain, plants stayed lush and green throughout the year. I never learned to deal with the harsher climate, the grubs, and other pests that are found in New England. One success was a beautiful herb garden planted for me by a friend. All was well until I introduced a little of my favorite herb – mint. Pretty soon all I had was a mint garden. I’m excited that I have finally begun composting. I used to feel anxious about food waste and sad tossing the peelings, stalks, and other vegetable waste in our trash. Now our leftovers are bundle up and go to the composting facility in our town, to be returned to the earth in due course. So now let’s return to our parables. The mustard seed and the grain planted by the sower represent God’s great gift to us in the miracle of Creation. Then Jesus likens the growth of these seeds to the coming kingdom of God. In the poetic stories of Creation in the book of Genesis, we read that God created the world and everything in it. God proclaimed that plants and animals, forests, oceans, rivers, deserts, mountains and planes were all “very good.” Then our Creator God made human beings in God’s own image, and sent us out to till the soil, and to enjoy forthcoming good gifts. It seems that humankind has fallen down on our part of the bargain. We learn from Jesus and the prophets that God’s vision for the world – God’s kingdom - includes all children being fed good, nutritious food; shelter and security provided for all people; a banquet table laden with good produce to be shared among all the world. If the bringing about God’s dream for the world were all up to us, it would be a tragic failure. But it’s not. The seed sown in the soil does not require any further intervention from the sower. The un-engineered seed comes with Creator-approved DNA. It is predestined to produce a bumper crop. Our participation is simple: put the seed in the ground, and then wait. Sometimes this is what our participation in the fruition of God’s dream means. We do our part, for today. We plant the seeds or generosity and kindness when we bring a bag of groceries to Interfaith Social Services during the lean summer months. We plant seeds of justice when we stand and speak for those who cannot safely speak for themselves. We plant seeds of love and connectedness, when we reach out and make friends with someone who looks different from us. We plant seeds of compassion when we respond to another’s need, looking at life through their eyes. Like the sower in the parable choose your seed, plant it today, and then leave the growth to God. And so, I have some homework for you all this summer: First of all rest. Like the earth, in order to be productive we need rest from work. So this summer get some unplugged down time. Like the sower, sleep and wake and sleep and wake again. Remember, it doesn’t all depend on you. Second, plant a seed. I have some here – mystery seeds if you like – for various herbs. I’ll give one to each of you. But you’re welcome to take more. Perhaps you will keep your seed of a reminder of the story today, or perhaps you’d like to grow it. A word of warning, just scattering the seed on the ground and going away probably won’t work. And so, Church, rest, get your hands into some soil. Compost your food scraps and vegetables. And get outside. You’ll feel better. May all God’s people say, Amen [1]Barbara Brown Taylor, “Grounded: Finding God in the World”, (HarperCollins, New York, 2015), 45 [2]Ibid., 45-46 [3]Wayne Muller, “Sabbath: Finding Rest and Renewal In Our Busy Lives”, (Bantam Books, 2013)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
If you enjoy a sermon or have a question, please leave a comment. If you would like to quote any of my material in your own sermons or writings, please use appropriate attribution. I look forward to hearing from you!Archives
April 2022
Categories |