God as Sower

By coincidence, this July 30 when we celebrate the memorial of St. Peter Chrysologus (Peter the Golden-Worded), the Gospel relates Jesus' explanation of the Parable of the Sower and the Seed. St. Peter was known for his short homilies delivered in clear language. Perhaps he was following the example we find in St. Matthew's Gospel in this instance.

As is always the case with parables, the ending is left open. Though Jesus explains the various elements of the parable and that which they symbolize, the listener is left to make his/her own decision regarding how this parable will be lived out.

When I was much younger, the homilies I heard invariably asked me to examine the kind of soil I provided for the seed. However, as I read the Scripture scholars today, I have come to realize that there is much more to this parable than simply discussing the person who receives the Word.

The parable also tells us something about the Sower. Obviously farming technique has changed so that the 21^st century farmer or sower does not "broadcast" the seed. However, even if we take that into consideration, one has to admit that sowing seed amid thorns or weeds or on a well-traveled path doesn't make much sense. Most farmers, realizing how precious seed is, would take some pains to see that the seed fell on the good soil. That doesn't seem to be a concern of this sower. One could almost say that the Sower is "prodigal" in his approach to sowing. If one accepts that premise, it says a great deal to us about God; namely, that God sows the seed of the Word on all sorts of soils so that everyone – the hard-hearted, the tempted, the worldly-minded, the less than committed – has the opportunity to come to faith through hearing. While the wisdom of the world might consider this a matter of "casting pearls before swine," God's loving mercy still reaches out to all.