Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Pentecost +9 – Year A

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Just prior to this passage we have Jesus responding to questions about who is part of his family. If it weren't for the artificiality of chapters and verses we would see Jesus' blood family outside. After redefining family as those who are paying attention to G*D in a similar way to Jesus, he goes outside.

Does he glimpse Mama Mary on the way to the sea? Are his sister or brother able to make their way through the crowd set loose to look him in the eye to see his rejection of them?

For purposes of this note we might wonder about the connection of the sower parable to a continuation of the family insight preceding it. This would push us to the power of the soil ('adam/'adamah – human/humus) to determine the fruitfulness of the seed or breath of life given into its care.

Following back to the Genesis 2-3 story, it is all too easy to read the sower as a story of blame. 3/4 of the seed is focused elseways than the well-being of the seed. This obliviousness to creation care is all too familiar.

This issue of blame/constraint is important in every family structure. What is the long ago heritage of your family? How does that compare with more recent experiences? Where did the breath or seed of life enter in? Can that be reclaimed? What cosmic responsibility have you worn and are you still expanding that or has it been narrowed from fear of others?