Good Ground

I breathe in the fresh sea air…I look out over the water, and then, land, and watch the gulls circle once, as if in respect for him. Everything becomes still and quiet. I stand among the people who have gathered here by the sea to hear him. They say he’s the Messiah…

Thousands of people are here as far as the eye can see. Some want to kill him…others just want to see what he’ll do next…some are sick and diseased. Women and children, who normally wouldn’t hear the scriptures, listen intently. He is different; he doesn’t speak like the rabbi’s in the temple. His countenance is peaceful and gentle. Yet he has authority and power but with humility and meekness.

I saw him heal a man who was blind. That got my attention. Today I just want to hear his words. I’ve never heard anyone speak the way he does. His words make me want to be different. I believe, he is, the Messiah.

I notice there are no scribes or Pharisees here…I guess it would be beneath them to come to the sea-shore. I’m glad they’re not here, they’re always causing division and confusion. Although it doesn’t seem to bother this man, this man called Jesus.

There in a ship he sits and begins to speak. A sower went out to sow seeds…some fell on by the way side; birds came and ate the seeds that had fallen. Some fell on stony places, there wasn’t much soil, they sprung up but because there wasn’t much soil, when the sun came up they were scorched; they had no root, they withered away.

Some of the seed fell among thorns but the thorns grew and choked out the seed. But some fell in good ground and grew strong and produced fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold and some thirtyfold.

As Jesus talked I began to see exactly what he was saying. He is the sower, his word is the seed, we are the soil. He’s talking about people…I have the feeling that only those who are enlightened by him can understand what this story really means. The man next to me is irritated and wants to leave he’s hot and tired and his little boy is beginning to be restless too. The words of Jesus mean nothing to him.

But the woman on the other side of me is crying; Jesus’s words are touching her heart.

And me, well I’m ready to follow him wherever he goes…His words are seed that are being planted in my heart. Praise the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, my heart is good ground, the roots grow deep. He is the Messiah! I will follow him.

This Parable is found in Matthew 13:1-23

By: Marla Shaw O’Neill February 3, 2016©