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Reading
the Parable of Our Lives
July
10, 2005 Homily
Matthew
13:1-9
Fr.
George Smiga
Is
the parable we just heard a positive or a negative parable?
Is it a comedy or a tragedy? Like many of Jesus' parables,
this parable can be read in different ways. Therefore it is
up to us to decide which way to read it. Some would conclude
that it is a tragic parable because much, if not most, of
the seed does not grow. It is eaten by the birds of the air,
choked by the thorns, or scorched by the sun. But others would
see it as a positive parable of growth, because the seed that
falls on the good soil produces a bountiful harvest of a hundred,
sixty, thirty-fold.
I
believe that Jesus is calling us to hear the parable positively,
to see it as a parable of growth. This is important because
it is clear that the parable is carefully shaped to fit the
contours of our lives. After all, the parable is not about
agriculture, but about human existence. It is not about seeds,
but the Kingdom of God.
What
this parable tells us about our human existence is this. We
will never succeed in all of our projects and goals. We will
never fulfill all of our hopes and our dreams. We will never
remain connected to all of the people who we love. Some of
our hopes and dreams will certainly not grow and will disappear
as quickly as the seed that was eaten by the birds. Some of
our projects and goals will start to grow, but then become
scorched and wither away because of lack of root. Some of
the people that we love will not love us in return. Others
will form a relationship, but after awhile we will discover
that it is a relationship without trust and without joy—one
that is suffocated like the seed that is choked by the thorns.
This parable reminds us that we are not in control, that we
cannot determine everything that happens in our life. Either
because of our own mistakes or because of other circumstances,
many of the hopes and dreams that we have will not come to
fruition. Much of what we desire will be lost like seed that
does not grow.
But
this parable, which acknowledges and contains all of these
examples of lost hope and unfulfilled dreams, also includes
a harvest, and a rich harvest. For all the seed that does
not grow, there is other seed that produces a hundred, sixty,
thirty-fold. Jesus I believe is calling us to focus on the
harvest. For all the goals, for all the relationships, for
all the dreams that were never fulfilled, this parable calls
us to remember all of those realities that did grow, that
did bless us, and sustain us still. This parable warns against
focusing on the parts of our lives that have failed. It warns
against living our lives out of guilt, out of self-pity. It
tells us we cannot base our lives on all the what-ifs. What
if – I tried harder? What if – circumstances were different?
What if – I made another decision? All of these what-ifs have
no future. Attaching our lives to them is as useless as crying
over spilt milk or over seeds that never grew.
Instead
of lamenting about all the things in our life that did not
happen, this parable calls us to rejoice in the things that
did happen—in the goals we were able to achieve, in the hopes
that we were able to realize, in the relationships that still
support us to this day. There might be many of our hopes and
dreams that did not materialize, but the ones that did are
enough to provide a bountiful harvest, a rich life.
So
is the Parable of the Sower a comedy or a tragedy?
It all depends on how you read it. The same is true of our
lives. We can choose to focus on all of our dead dreams and
wrap ourselves in despair. Or we can choose to accept the
harvest that has been given us with thankfulness and joy.
How do you choose to live your life? What do you choose to
see? Is your life a triumph or a tragedy? Only you can decide.
Let those who have ears to hear, listen.
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