27^th July 2011

Rev Dr Max Champion at St John's UCA Mt Waverley Sunday 10 July 2011

Lessons -- Psalm 119:105-112; Matthew 13:1-23

Jesus said, 'Let anyone with ears listen.' (Matthew 13:9 NRSV)

We usually think of Jesus' parables as simple stories that can be instantly grasped by anybody. Not so. We may hear them again and again, but not understand. The parables actually hide their meaning from those who harden their hearts, cover their ears and shut their eyes to the truth (vv10-17).

What do we hear when this familiar parable is retold?

It is almost certain that we will hear the lengthy explanation (vv18-23) -- not the parable itself. We are used to hearing it as a warning to those who hear the Gospel but fall away. Do not be like the seed that fell on shallow, rocky or thorny ground! Let the Gospel take deep root in your hearts so that you will 'bear much fruit' and stand up against stiff opposition.

This may have been helpful to the small, fragile Christian community facing persecution under Nero (about AD 65) and to other Christians who have suffered. It is good advice to the Church in every age. But it is not the meaning of the parable. Even the earliest interpreters did not listen!

The length of the interpretation is a dead give-away. It is like trying to explain a joke that falls flat. It does not work. Until we really hear the joke we will not get it. We certainly will not get the point if others misinterpret it.

When we look at the parable (vv1-9) and the interpretation (vv18-23) we see a significant shift in meaning.

* The explanation urges disciples to examine themselves and test the
depth of their commitment. It provides us with a psychological insight
into the reactions of those who receive the Gospel. See to it that you
are not like the seed that fell on bad soil!

* In contrast, the parable is a word of encouragement to preachers,
teachers and missionaries who present the Gospel.

The parable is a word of hope to those who are charged with the responsibility to follow Jesus in 'sowing the seed of God's kingdom' on earth. They should not be dismayed by the apparent futility of their work.
As Jesus himself experienced shallowness, apathy, timidity and fickleness among those who heard the message that he spread, so his disciples should not expect anything different. Public response to the Gospel can be very disappointing -- as is starkly shown in Jesus' rejection, suffering and crucifixion at the hands of those he loved.

Thus the parable teaches that, despite frustrations, hardships, setbacks, desertions and suchlike, there is reason to hope. Here and there the word will take root to produce an unimaginably rich harvest (v8) -- beyond the wildest dreams of preachers, teachers and missionaries.

Among fervent evangelicals and charismatics this is often interpreted to mean that, if only we had enough faith, we too would experience such incredible results. We should be delighted where, in places like Africa and South America, the Gospel breaks in to transform communities and change the lives of large numbers of people who have not previously heard the liberating word of grace.

But we should not let our joy at such a response blind us to the meaning of the parable. It is a parable of hope, not because we are given a guarantee that the Church's preaching, teaching and missionary work will bring such incredible results in our life time, but because the harvest that God will bring about in the fullness of time will be unbelievably abundant.

It is enough to sow the seed. The results will take care of themselves in God's good time.

Therefore, despite setbacks and the apparent futility of what we are called to be as a community formed by Christ, we may live in hope.

* We may live in hope because the one who has sown the seed of God's
goodness and love on earth assures us that God will bring in a rich
harvest in the fullness of time.

* We may live in hope because the one whose love for the world resulted,
not in a huge following but in rejection and crucifixion, also defeated
powers hostile to the spread of the Gospel.

We will truly be a people of hope when we see that the point of The Parable of the Sower depends on the contrast between its beginning and end. As sowing is related to harvest, so is Jesus' preaching (and that of his disciples) related to the future Kingdom of God. As the farmer reaps a harvest despite setbacks during the sowing and growing of the crop, so disciples can be assured of a good response to the Gospel despite
disappointing reactions along the way.

In the face of doubts about the ultimate success of the message of the Kingdom of God and the apparent ineffectiveness of the Church's preaching, teaching and mission, Jesus says, 'Consider the sower.' He might despair in view of the many adverse factors that prevent the seed being harvested.
If he maintains confidence in a good outcome, why should you despair?

Of course there are many reasons for the Church to despair:

* Apathy, shallowness, timidity and fickleness can be found among those
who have heard the Gospel and glimpsed the Kingdom of God in Jesus.

* Hostility, ridicule and persecution can all be found in large supply
among those in our society who despise the way of the cross and
resurrection.

* We would love to see the fruits of our labour gladly received by our
families, neighbours, communities and fellow Christians.

Where that kind of response is forthcoming, we should be overjoyed that tiny seeds of hope planted long ago have come to fruition. Today many people have responded, including those who have suffered unspeakable evil, or been terrified by demonic forces, or repented of wrongs they have done, or forgiven others wrongs done to them, or simply seen the wonder of the Gospel for the first time.

But where that response is not obvious to us, we should not lose heart. As Jesus' extraordinary ministry did not attract a huge following, so we should not expect anything more. It is enough that we are called to pass on the good news of the Kingdom of God which made such a huge impact on Jesus' few disciples that they could not help telling and retelling the story -- even when their pagan neighbours and fellow members hardened their hearts, became hard of hearing and closed their eyes to the truth.

It is enough that we believe Jesus' promise that, notwithstanding the unpromising reactions of many people outside and inside the Church, God shall in the fullness of time bring in a harvest so abundant that it defies human measurement.

In view of this, we must not let ourselves be diverted from the task of spreading the Gospel in our preaching, teaching and missionary work -- as were the early interpreters of the parable -- by focusing on the reactions of those who heard the message.

There is a place for self-examination and a time to challenge people's commitment! But only if it is done with our ears attuned to the splendour of Gospel itself. Otherwise, even with the best intentions, we will become pre-occupied with our own and other people's spiritual state.

If we turn inward or try to judge others then we will forget that, as fallible disciples, our task is to witness to the superabundant goodness and mercy of God embodied in Christ. But when we truly 'listen' to what we 'hear' (v9), we will take delight in the Gospel and truly be preachers, teachers and missionaries of hope.

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Rev Dr Max Champion is minister in the St John's Uniting Church, Mt Waverley, Victoria, Australia. Dr Champion is Chair of the Assembly of Confessing Congregations within the UCA.