Love the practical metaphor of planting and agriculture, so much a part of the daily life of agrarian peoples in the day. There would be a deep experience to these words, but they may not have fully caught what he was trying to teach them in this parable. The seed is the good news of Jesus Christ, the Messiah come initially in the form of a baby. This message of hope, or seed, is being scattered directly by Jesus and his disciples. However, as we know while Jesus may be demonstrating superhuman power, and speaking words of witness of who he is, wisdom, grace, and life, not all are believing and following.

We see this parable in two parts today: 1. Believing. Not all who hear the good news of Jesus Christ, and the grace and love offered, hear it. It may be snatched away, it may not take hold as the root in the heart does not form, or it may not take hold as it is choked out by the worries, sin, or lies of the world. 2. Following. We may believe, it may be planted, but we may not fully surrender as an open vessel to Christ limiting flow and love through us. Within the kind of soil God has created in us, do we produce the many fold grains of compassion, justice, sharing of truth, generosity, hospitality, service, time, worship, ……

In this Advent season, we are reminded of the great news of Messiah come! As Believers, it is a good time to reflect on how this seed has grown within the soil of our person and lives, for His purposes and love in the world.