Today's Gospel reading is about the familiar tale of the sower and the seeds. Depending on where the seeds landed would determine whether they were to survive. While it is a powerful lesson, I'd like to take a slightly different look at that particular parable, looking not at the seeds but at the sower.



I think it is reasonable to say that I would not want to employ that particular sower of seeds to work for me. I mean, look at that person, they are obviously wasting seeds and not really worrying about it. Some of the seeds the sower scattered went on rocky ground, some on pavement where the birds ate them, and only some on good ground. Seeds were valuable things in those days, yet this person didn't care. Just throw the seeds down and who cares where they land. Each seed scattered foolishly meant one less possible plant, crop, or piece of food. If I were the person employing that sower, I'd be rather angry.



What the parable Jesus told was not only about those who took root in the Lord, but also about those who tended to and worked the fields. When looked at in that light this parable has a direct impact upon all of us, even if the only seeds you have ever touched were on your bagel.



Have you ever been in a store desperately looking for help, only to see all the salespeople gathered together having an animated discussion about anything BUT customer service? Have you ever been in a restaurant where the server seemed to have the attitude that he or she was doing you a favor by deigning to serve you? Have you been in the self same restaurant and seen children running around like it was the local playground while the parents were happily engaged in conversation, ignoring both their kids and the glares of all the patrons. In each case, people had the opportunity to scatter seeds and have them grow and flourish. In each case, the seeds were carelessly scattered.

My father and I once had the following conversation. When I was still a teacher in parochial school, I worked four different jobs during one particular summer. My father, who missed having me around, sat me down one night and asked me to give up at least one of the jobs. He said he was worried that I was working too hard, that I was causing myself to become exhausted, and that he was concerned for my health and safety. I listened quietly, and when it was my turn to speak, I reminded him that he was the man who many weekends would work 18+ hour overtime shifts in order to make some extra money. He visibly grimaced at that one. I told him that I appreciated his concern, but he had taught me responsibility with money all too well, and that is why I was working all these jobs.

We all sow seeds, and all have seeds to sow every day of our lives. What kind of seeds will we sow, however? Will we sow the seeds of tolerance for other points of view, or will we teach that our view is right no matter what? Will we sow the seeds that everyone should be treated with dignity, or will we echo Napoleon the pig in the novel Animal Farm, and say that some people are more equal than others? Will we sow the seeds that honesty, even when it may cost us some type of suffering, is the way to go, or will we say that cheating really doesn't hurt things much and it is easier for us in the short run? Will we sow the idea with our children that spending time in God's house is something that they should do, and emphasize that by dropping them off at Sunday school and then driving away?

We sow seeds with each other every day. Was yelling at your employee truly necessary when a calmer tone of voice might have had the same effect, without having that person now alternately petrified and furious at you? Did you hold that door open for the person behind you or slam it in their face? Did you thank the person who did hold the door open for you or instead treat them to silence? Did you take that opportunity to pay someone a well deserved compliment, or did you find yourself too busy to stop and say something.

There is an old story that a man died and went to heaven and was receiving a tour from St. Peter. They went into this huge warehouse where there were people's names. Above each name was a large number of unopened boxes. The man inquired of St. Peter what all the boxes were. St. Peter seemed reluctant to answer the question, but the man persisted. Finally St. Peter told the man that they were blessings that God has bestowed upon each of those people, but the person had not opened and received.

The same can be said with the seeds God gives us each day to sow. Each day we have a new batch to spread in our travels in the world. If we can't sow all of them on fertile ground, God understands. He knows that we can't always do that when we have to nurture those seeds which have begun to sprout We don't have to sow all those seeds. We can give them to each other in the form of a kind word, a good deed, or a warm smile. By giving those seeds away, we spread them, hopefully for the next person to spread them to the next person, and the next, and the next. What God doesn't want is for us to waste them, to toss them away, to scatter them on the path for the birds to eat. Like all the gifts that God gives us, he wants us to appreciate them and show that appreciation by giving gifts of our own.

What have you done with your seeds today?

Amen.

Michael Gow