The Isaiah reading is a favorite of many preachers I know. When we preachers gather for retreats and conferences the odds are that this reading will pop up somewhere — either in a talk or our common prayers. I bet it is also a favorite of individual preachers who need reassurance in their ministry. We do our best to faithfully preach the Word of God and we trust that we have been instruments in God’s plan. We rely on the promise God has made, that the word “that goes forth from my mouth; my word shall not return to me void.”
As hard as we preachers work to prepare a good preaching we cannot, on our own, make it produce fruit in the lives of our hearers. They are so diverse and have so many personal needs — as well as reasons to celebrate. But Isaiah reassures us today that we are not on our own. Our effectiveness does not rely merely on our brilliance, cleverness, rhetorical skills and hard work — as useful as all that might be. Rather, the prophet reminds us we are engaged with a living word that “shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.” The bottom line: we are not in charge. God has a plan and God’s Word is the instrument to accomplish and fulfill that plan.
It is examination of conscience time for us preachers. How diligent am I in listening to and praying the Word from which I will preach? Do I just take a verse or image out of its context and prepare a message that is, at its core, unrelated to the text’s intent? Perhaps we preachers will not always feel successful about a preaching. But if we have spent time trying to hear what God is saying and doing for us and God’s people and have done our best to speak out of that experience, then we can leave the results in God’s hands. Isaiah reminds us, “my word shall not return void.”
The prophet didn’t write just for preachers, but for all God’s people. In his poetic way, Isaiah reminds us of the power of the Word to do in us what it says: comfort, heal, challenge, encourage, guide and surprise us. So, there’s a challenge for us all from the prophet: are we attentive to the living word of God we hear proclaimed during our liturgical celebration? Apart from our communal liturgical experience, how much time do we spend listening to, reflecting on and praying with the Word of God? This isn’t an automatic process. The Word will not bear its promised fruit unless we let it enter and make a home in us. If it does, it will yield its hoped-for results, bringing forth patience, fidelity, compassion, justice, love, healing, and wisdom (add your own hopes to this list).
I have decided to focus on the shorter option for today’s gospel (Matthew 13:1-9). It feels more manageable and focused for this preacher. In addition, Scripture scholars tell us that the first section contains the original teaching from the life of Jesus and the rest of the passage is an interpretation by the early Christian community as it reflected on Jesus’ teaching in its latter and unique context. In additon, the evangelist would also have edited the material for his own community’s needs. It’s all inspired, reflecting how the Spirit spoke to different moments in the early church’s life. So, let’s focus on the parable at the beginning of today’s gospel selection.
How rich and varied is God’s Word! It doesn’t only sprout to life in the Scriptures, but also through liturgical celebrations, and in the arts. Have you ever felt inspired and deeply touched by classical or modern music? One can not visit a museum without seeing renditions of the biblical texts in paintings, fabrics, sculptures, etc. Videos based on biblical themes, such as forgiveness, justice and faith are shown in retreat houses and parish religion classes. The Internet gives us access to the abundant seed that is the Word through theological essays, reflections, preachings and conferences. How rich is God’s Word and how generously God has sown it in the world!
The context of today’s parable provides some insight into its interpretation and application. In the preceding chapters 11-12, Matthew tells us that Jesus met opposition. Later in chapter 13 even his hometown folk reject him. The
parable is located between stories of confrontation and rejection and gives us insight into interpreting it. As the early church faced opposition and a seeming lack of success, the parable must have given encouragement to the first preachers — a promise of fruit not yet visible to them.
Jesus is speaking to a large crowd. They may be listening to what he says, but will they follow him to the point of death? He is realistic as he seems to randomly cast his words out upon the crowd. What he says will not seem to bear fruit — not immediately, anyway.
Isn’t that what we preachers, teachers, catechists, parents etc. experience as we try again and again to plant the seed of faith and wisdom in others? How much of our efforts “take?” How much bears fruit? Will anyone remember what we say in a week? Month? Year? The rest of their lives? Are we wasting our time as we prepare preaching, plan liturgies, organize RCIA classes, bring in speakers, invite young adults on campuses to “Theology on Tap” sessions, etc.
What is striking about the parable is the amount of waste. The bulk of the details is about wasted effort and lost seed. Why wasn’t the sower more careful, after all farmers were poor and the seed precious? Sometimes, don’t we wonder if all our efforts and words are worth it?
As we used to say in the old neighborhood, “Hey, ya never know!” Who knows what’s beneath the surface of the soil we cast our seeds upon? Who knows the potential of the good soil? Do good and poor soil both exist in the same person? Is there something we might say that will land on the interior good soil in a person and bear the “hundredfold, or sixty or thirtyfold” Jesus promises? “Hey, ya never know!”
The numbers of the yield don’t mean anything to me. Do they to you? It seems that if the harvest yielded seven or tenfold the farmer would have considered it a good year. So, even the least yield Jesus promises, “thirtyfold,” would have been an overwhelming harvest. The farmer could feed even more than his family. Does the yield hint of sharing and celebration, surprise and wonder? The way we are surprised by the wonder of the blessings God has given us, blessings we haven’t earned and deserved? How much more celebrating, surprise, sharing and reason for dancing would a harvest of sixty or a hundredfold evoke?
While the parable begins with and spends time on hardships and failure it ends in surprise and abundance. Who could have guessed it? What was the source of this abundance? We look to what Isaiah told us today about the fertile, life-giving nature of God’s Word. Despite any discouragement we might feel because our efforts on God’s behalf seem futile and draining, still, we put our trust in the one who speaks to us a living word.
I am not a Scripture scholar but here’s something I’ve observed in both Testaments: the Bible hinges on “but,” and “however.” For example: in the Psalms of lament, after the dire condition of the supplicants is laid out, the helplessness and the misery of the human condition expressed, there appears a “but” or “however.” This announces the entrance of God who will address the needs expressed. Did you notice the “but” in today’s passage? It comes quickly and surprisingly after the list of failures is described. “But…………..” It is as if Jesus is saying, “Surprise! Don’t give up hope. God is coming to help beyond your expectations or merits, “in one case a hundredfold or in another sixty and in another thirty.”