He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said:
"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed..."
Mark 4.2-3
The Parable of the Sower
With Good Friday and the coming of Easter Sunday, while the pandemic continues to simmer, we take this time to reflect here on an ecologically-themed passage from the New Testament, ripe as it is with contemplative parables. Known as the Parable of the Sower, this passage from the Book of Mark, also appearing in Matthew, Luke, and the Gospel of Thomas, mirrors an activity of the mind that occurs in ongoing cycles, across myriads of situations, in all times and places. Its message bears as much significance for our present circumstances as those of bygone years.
While but one of a rich handful of such parables, known collectively as the Seed Parables of Jesus, the Parable of the Sower depicts in lucid detail the process of sowing seeds in the unconscious. Although referring specifically to the teachings of Christianity and the word of God, such seeds may also stand broadly for any experience and its imprints on the mind. We thus draw on the Parable of the Sower to investigate one of many contemplative elements of ecology seeded throughout the Bible and Christian contemplative practice, with implications for sustainability and resilience in times of crisis.
Let Them Hear
Contextually, the Parable of the Sower is a sermon delivered by Jesus from a boat on the Sea of Galilee to an immense crowd gathered on the shore. The parable begins by illustrating this scene for us, then diving into the ecological metaphor.
Again Jesus began to teach by the lake.
The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge.
“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.
As he was scattering the seed,
some fell along the path,
and the birds came and ate it up.
Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.
It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
But when the sun came up,
the plants were scorched,
and they withered because they had no root.
Other seed fell among thorns,
which grew up and choked the plants,
so that they did not bear grain.
Still other seed fell on good soil.
It came up, grew and produced a crop,
some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”
Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
We thus witness an array of growing conditions for the sowing of seeds. Depending on where such seeds land, their fate differs substantially. Interestingly, the parable is left as it is, unelaborated, for the lay audience gathered at the shoreline. No further commentary is provided in their presence.
The Farmer Sows the Word
Only slightly later does Jesus explain the meaning of the metaphor to the disciples, explaining his intent in using parables. Knowing that the masses will not fully "hear" the depths of his message, struggling to grasp its deeper purport, he dresses his teachings in parables they will find accessible. At the very least, they will carry these stories with them, even if they do not fully comprehend them. Thus a seed is planted in their minds, which if provided with the proper growing conditions, will flourish into a mature contemplative comprehension of the message of God.
To a private audience of his disciples, Jesus provides commentary on the seed metaphor. In unpacking the parable, he proceeds meticulously through each image, relating each growing context to a type of person with qualities and conditions either conducive or not to understanding the word of God. "The farmer sows the word," he clarifies.
Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown.
As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
Thus, Jesus explains that seeds are like the word of God. They will inevitably resonate with some and not with others, depending on various extenuating circumstances. The first class of people he describes are like seeds that land on a path and not the field itself. Because they are exposed to birds and other creatures, they will be taken away and eaten before they have any chance at growing.
Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy.
But since they have no root, they last only a short time.
When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
Next are those who gladly receive the word of God but lose faith and stagnate due to hardship. They are likened to seeds sown on rocky terrain, without opportunity to reach the soil and establish roots. Adversity overcomes them as a result of unfavorable growing conditions.
Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word;
but the worries of this life,
the deceitfulness of wealth
and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Likewise, some people may have faith but deviate from the contemplative path due to stressors and temptations, like thorns that choke budding sprouts after the seeds have been sown among them.
Others, like seed sown on good soil,
hear the word, accept it,
and produce a crop—
some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
However, those whose conditions are ripe will wind up reaping a bountiful harvest with fruits far exceeding what was originally planted. They are like seeds sown in abundantly rich, healthy soil, the ideal growing conditions for fruitful outcomes.
Adding to its relevance, the Parable of the Sower occurs following upon Mark's depiction of a growing sense of hostility toward Jesus by the Pharisees. While this contextual piece is omitted from the other books in which the parable occurs, it provides a clue about possible reasons for Jesus to have chosen such a parable. It further sets the stage for several additional seed-based parables that follow immediately after it. Such pieces of the puzzle appear to point toward the importance of sustainable faith and joy in order to support the longevity of the teaching of Jesus, despite relentless opposition.
Sowing Seeds
Extending the metaphor to our present circumstances, broadening it beyond its original scope, several questions emerge. For instance, how might we ensure our seeds, the words and values by which we intend to live, fall on good soil? What can we do to support their growth in times of crisis? What conditions, within our range of influence, may we sculpt through our own volition in order to reap a fruitful harvest? Such questions apply equally to contemplative practice as they do to the wider context of local and global sustainability.
In order to endure our current pandemic and various other forms of adversity that will inevitably continue to plague us in the years to come, we must sow our seeds wisely, under sustainable conditions. Faith in the process, confidence that we will be capable of enduring hardship and will emerge on the other end with fresh eyes, a transformed perspective on our relationships in this world, will assist us immensely in these times of difficulty. Such faith is experiential, sustained by contemplative practice itself.
Source:
The Holy Bible, New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan House, 1984.
No comments:
Post a Comment