Meditation on This Sunday's Gospel

 The readings for Sunday, July 16, 2023:

First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-13

First Reading (Semi-cont.): Genesis 25:19-34

Psalm: Psalm 65:[1-8] 9-14 (Psalm 65:[1-8] 9-13 NRSV)

Psalm (Semi-cont.): Psalm 119:105-112

Second Reading: Romans 8:1-11

Gospel: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

This Gospel returns us to one of my favorite metaphors: the seed. When I first read this Gospel lesson as a child, I read it as an indictment of the seeds. Clearly some were just bad or worthless. Now, as an adult, I see this Gospel as being primarily about the ground. We've all got lots of potential, but some of us just aren't in the right kind of ground to flourish.

Unlike seeds, we can move. I'm not necessarily talking about a literal move, although the idea of moving to be near a great religious community doesn't strike me as absurd, the way it once did. Many of us move for much more stupid reasons.

But let's be realistic.  We have obligations:  mortgages, jobs, families. Many of us are as rooted as huge trees. However, there are still many things we can do to enrich the soil in which we find ourselves.

We are living in a time of all sorts of online opportunities, and many of them are free. We could spend all of our Sundays--and a good part of our Mondays--watching various religious services that have been livestreamed and then recorded for later viewing.  We can attend all sorts of conferences virtually, and many of those conferences are offered for free or at substantially reduced rates.  We can watch great musicians play their instruments at close proximity.

For those of us still commuting to our jobs, there's the time in the car that we could put to better use.  Spend time with something that calms you (a CD, a podcast, a tape). Get something that reminds you of who you're supposed to be. I've noticed that when I'm listening to Godspell, I'm less likely to curse my fellow drivers, and the lyrics stay with me through the day.  I get a similar effect when I turn off all the noise and have silence for my drive.

No matter where we're working--or not working--we can build mini-retreats into our days: find some green space and go there to pray; read something inspiring, if you can't leave your desk; find web sites with inspiring material and visit; close the door to your families, don't answer the phone, and practice deep breathing. 

This may be a time where fertile soil for soul building seems hard to find. We may feel like we're marooned in sand or concrete. But if gardening teaches us anything, it's that soil can be redeemed, and often by small efforts, day after day, just a few minutes each day.  Within a season, we can find ourselves with good soil that will nourish our souls, getting them ready for new growth.