Jesus’ preaching is the model for good pedagogy! In his lifetime his teaching practices are clearly unorthodox. He teaches in the streets outside the synagogue. He knows how to interest people in his topic. He uses stories to interest his listeners in the message.
Jesus’ parables compel us to think for ourselves and to look for the good around us. Like a seasoned teacher, he also uses examples familiar to his listeners. Many Nazarenes were farmers, who owned large plots of land. In order to prepare for planting, they placed sacks of seed on the back of a mule. A hole was cut in the corner of the bag. As the mule walked, of course, some seed spilled on the wayside. Yet, when the time came, there was still a great harvest. Jesus’ listeners were familiar with this scene.
Because of his creative pedagogy, understanding Jesus’ parables is not the problem. Integrating them into our daily lives is! Perhaps, our invitation in joining the sower is to be conscious of where those seeds are in our lives. Obviously, we don’t have to live on a farm to notice those God-sent invitations. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Hebrews that just as God always relinquishes our sin when we ask for forgiveness, so we are to do the same. The seeds of forgiveness are given to us.
As we sit with today’s liturgical readings—perhaps with a cup of coffee or tea—let’s talk seriously with this God who loves us unconditionally. Let’s inventory what we do with the seeds given to us every day: the seeds of accepting people’s personalities, good intentions, personal backgrounds, sufferings. We are a motley crew of humanity. Jesus knows this. Jesus never nitpicks our sins. His all- embracing love catapults us into living the works of mercy and the beatitudes. So, what are we doing with these seeds given to us? Do we nurture them or let them fall by the wayside to die?
Holiness
To a preacher who kept saying,
“We must put God in our lives,” the Master said,
“God is already there. Our business is to recognize this.”