Preaching Paths 16 July 2023

Sally A. Brown, Professor Emerita, Princeton Theological Seminary

The familiar parable of the sower (Mt 13: 1-9), coupled in Matthew with its interpretation (Mt 13:18-23), occurs in all the Synoptics.  Sermons based on it generally see the sower as Jesus (or God the Father), the seed as the gospel summons to trust and follow Jesus, and the soils as human hearts and minds. Homilies  focus on the soils and end with interrogation: “What kind of soil are you? How fruitful is your life?” Yet, there are other, perhaps stronger homiletical possibilities. Here, I suggest that we begin with the assumption that communities of faith are the sowers in the story.

The parable portrays sharing news of the reign of God, with mixed response –a theme already established and carried consistently for three chapters (Mt 10-12). In ch 10, Jesus prepares his disciples for a mission of teaching and healing, warning them of limited receptivity and great resistance. Teaching sessions, healing scenes, and controversies reinforce the theme in Mt 11 and 12.  Many surmise that the interpretation of the parable (13:18-23) was a late addition by the early church to Matthew’s text, a portrayal of its own missionary experience.

Understanding the agricultural setting that Jesus’ first listeners likely assumed can help listeners grasp the “sowing” metaphor. NT scholar Kenneth Bailey helps us envision a typical Palestinian farm plot (see online lecture, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfJT_3sZXHM). Farmers lived in the village, not on their land. They walked out to their contiguous farm plots on the terraced hillsides. To reach their plot, many would cross several other properties on well-worn paths that bordered the fields. Each terraced plot contained the featuresto which Jesus refers: the hard pathway border; a shallow, rocky strip against the stone wall rising up to the next terrace; and weed-infested corners. The farmer no doubt focused on seeding the field’s plowed central area; yet, seed inevitably fell alongside the public path, into the rocky, sometimes damp back trench, and among weeds. The parable of the sower (or “sowing”) prepares the church for mixed results.

Yet, churches both East and West–even if they recognize their sowing role—too often assume that their mission is to coax a reluctant public inside the church building. Particularly in the West, demographic research and market-specific planning produces revised approaches to worship and other programming. Lures ranging from free lattes to raffle tickets (prizes awarded after the benediction) help to encourage crowds.  (I am not making this up.)  Indeed, the pews may fill, at least temporarily, enough to pay the staff and repair the roof. New faith may grow; yet many “newcomers” are simply migrants from other congregations.

The parable urges us to rethink our methods and expectations. First, the sower goes out to sow. This suggests that instead of updating the lighting, menu and music in the hothouse, we need to take God’s redemptive Word and ways out into the trampled, rocky, weedy—and yes, sometimes fertile– world.  Second, sowing is not salesmanship; it is a routine, risky first step in the patient work of farming. Germination and growth are not guaranteed when we sow the Word and ways of God. Many will shake their heads and walk away. Bursts of spiritual enthusiasm may sprout, then wither. Religiously-branded, social-media-driven culture wars will distract some, choking genuine faith.  Yet, here and there, the seed we sow, in Word and deed, beyond our church walls will take root, germinate and grow. Jesus alerts us to watch for astonishing harvests. Beyond our expectations, the nourishing fruit of God’s redemptive love and justice will feed hungry bodies and souls.