Very often when we read the story the emphasis is made on the seed. Some of the seed fell on hard ground, others among rocks while the other seeds fell on very good soil producing a very good harvest. However, today I would like to reflect a bit deeper on the sower, on the person who put the seed in the ground. These things struck me about this as I reflected on the story. Although the sower may appear to be in charge of the operation the actual growth has nothing to do with him. Moreover, the sower would have no idea how the seed would produce the fruit. He would have no real knowledge about what makes the seed integrate itself with which was in the ground to finally produce the desired fruit. In addition, he at least understands that growth occurs at its own pace. It cannot be hurried. The sower might wish for a quick harvest or for every seed to produce its fruit. However much as he wishes and hopes for these results, the growth and the final harvest follows it own natural course of growth.
This teaches us a lot. In life, we have the constant temptation to control things. We feel most secure when we have everything organized, when we have full knowledge of everything that we are responsible for and when we can determine exactly what the future would be like. Through the story of the sower Jesus is teaching us that true freedom lies in the fact that we do what we can do in life to the best of our ability and then we need to let God do His work with us and through us.
True freedom lies in the renunciation of control, knowing that we have done the best that we can and trusting that God is in charge and He will bring everything to fruition. This is the essence of the first reading. We cannot solve every problem by ourselves. We cannot save the world by ourselves. We do what we can in the best way that we can trusting that God will work with our gifts and commitment to produce good fruit.
This is the reason why Jesus was able to sleep during such a severe storm that frightened experienced fishermen. This is the reason why Jesus kept focusing on going to Jerusalem in spite of all the dangers involved. This is also the reason why Jesus at the garden of Gethsemane was able to decide to go through with the Passion in the midst of so much anxiety and loneliness. This attitude has given encouragement to so many people throughout history.
On August 23, 1963, Martin Luther King gave his famous speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character”. He fought so hard for equality for the Afro-American people. He faced stiff opposition and criticism. He had to wade through so much prejudice and hatred. Once when, he received death threat calls for his family, he was ready to give up. He said that he could handle being threatened to be killed himself, but when it involved his family it was too hard. He only persisted because he felt the presence of Jesus Christ alive within him. He kept going because he firmly believed that he was doing everything that he could but then he had to leave much in the hands of God to finally achieve equality for his people. It might have sounded foolish. I am sure that many people tried to persuade him to give up because they could not see anything good coming out of it, that it was a hopeless situation. However, the reality is that today we have Senator Barack Obama, of Afro-American heritage as the nominee of the Democratic Party for the presidency of the United States. We do our bit to the best of our ability knowing that God is in control.
This is something that gives all of us hope. In many countries, especially in our own country we are living in a very secularized society where some, a minority but very powerful try to drive religion away from the public sphere. We are told that we can get excited about everything, but not about Jesus. We can talk about everything, except about Jesus Christ. We are allowed to promote every idea that is presented to us being in its use of crystals and New Age or in the environment as long as God is not mentioned. The European Union has refused to include the heritage of Christianity in the first Constitution that was presented for ratification.
Sometimes we might feel at a loss what to do. Sometimes we get discouraged and feel dejected. However we need to keep saying loudly and at every opportunity that God loves all of us so much that he sent Jesus. Jesus died for me. Jesus rose again for me. Jesus is alive in me now and it is only when I base my life on the values and teachings of Jesus Christ that I will reach my fullest potential and meaning of life.
Ultimately we know what the result is going to be. St Paul wrote in his letter to the people of Ephesus. “Ultimately everything will be put under the leadership of Jesus.” We have the victory and therefore we need to live our lives with a victorious mentality that ultimately what we stand for and believe as Christians is the answer for the longings and the hopes and dreams of humanity. This is what all of us are going to proclaim boldly and celebrate passionately next week during the events of World Youth Day.
God Bless.
