Facing up — the parable of the sower

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 40, 26 March 1985, Page 4

Facing up — the parable of the sower

A parable is an illustration from life. It usually makes just one point. From it a person may see that God has a claim on his life.

He must choose to respond to that claim. The parable of the sower, as an example, is one of those well known ones although probably it would be better called the parable of the seed and the soils. Farmers around our district know that a lot of seeds are wasted. There are the birds, thorns, rocks and yet despite this farmers go ahead and sow their paddocks. When harvest time comes there is normally great abundance and the waste seems unimportant. The production from the good soil make it all worth while. When we look about the world we may well doubt that God's Kingdom is really coming. We may even think the power of evil is getting the upper hand. In our world there is much in life that is painful. Things do not always go well for us. Many tragedies happen to us as well as to other people. We may ask why children have to suffer and die or why good people contract painful diseases.

Christians do their best to love and serve other people, yet those people still refuse to acknowledge God. The parable of the seed and the soils is a sign of hope. God's plan will succeed. The kingdom will be established. Evil will be

destroyed. Good will triumph over evil. God's power will reign triumphant. A thought for the day: Evil triumphs when good people do nothing.

Rev.

T.

Melbourne

Anglican Chaplain, Waiouru