Third Sunday after Pentecost
Notes
Transcript
Monoculture v. Polyculture
Monoculture v. Polyculture
(intercropping)
Driving on US 195 you’ll see acres and acres of primarily two maybe three main crops. Beans, Canola and… Wheat. Most of you already know that this is called monoculture - a single crop planted, sprayed, fertilized and harvested.
Historically, and in the times of Christ, monoculture would not have been a likely thing.
For one they would have sown about 60lbs of seed per acre. We don’t even really do it like this anymore- we do # of seeds per acre! We have the capacity to count! In general, the crops would’ve been about half as dense.
In the time of Jesus Archaeology tends to point to a central tower that would’ve supported about 50 people with a wine press, threshing floor, and a four roomed home.
Around this tower would have been a variety of crops: vines with grapes, dates, cereals, and incense. Polyculture.
It is tempting to try and preach this passage as a text about Monoculture or Polyculture. About how we should not have silos of singular ministries. Ezekiel would support this.
On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest.
That is not really what this passage is about. This parable is more about the scattering - the act of sowing of the seed and how the seed does EXACTLY what it was intentioned to do- GROW.
Sow the seed
Sow the seed
What does the ‘seed’ stand for? In short - the Word.
Thomas Aquinas the great Catholic Theologian wrote a hymn titled ‘Now My Tongue the Mystery Telling’ and in the second verse he would have you sing this:
630 Now, My Tongue, the Mystery Telling
Giv’n for us, and condescending
To be born for us below,
He with us in converse blending
Dwelt, the seed of truth to sow,
Till He closed with wondrous ending
His most patient life of woe.
The ‘seed’ is the life and work of the Word made flesh - the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Do you see the parallels for Mark 4 and verse 2 of this hymn?
A man should scatter seed on the ground/condescending and to be born for us below
the seed sprouts and grows/ the seed of truth to sow
when the grain is ripe he puts in the sickle/ Till He closed with wondrous ending His most patient life of woe.
Reminds us- the primary function of the church is to proclaim the Word.
The Book of Concord Article VII: Concerning the Church
It is also taught that at all times there must be and remain one holy, Christian church. It is the assembly of all believers among whom the gospel is purely preached and the holy sacraments are administered according to the gospel.
This brings about incredible clarity in what we do.
Your health is our first priority. - False. Your salvation is.
Our primary concern is not liturgical purity, entertaining worship, hot Children’s programs, or tasty communion wine.
and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
This is what we concern ourselves with. We take up the mantle sowing the seed of God’s word- recited, preached, eaten and lived.
In his reflections on this passage RCH Lenski says this:
The Interpretation of St. Mark’s Gospel Chapter 4
All that a man does is “to throw the seed on the earth,” and that is all he can do; the seed itself does all the rest.
What is wild is that we have historically fought about HOW we should ‘throw the seed’. Did you know that Sunday school is a new gig in the life of the church? At the turn of the 20th century our church body was trying to decide if we would allow Sunday School to be a part of the life of our church. Here is what the newly elected president of our church said:
“It is absolutely wrong to speak of the Sunday school as progress. The Christian Sunday school is, of course, better than no instruction in the Christian religion at all. But compared with the Christian weekday school, the Sunday school is a great step backward. If Christian parents are satisfied with a Sunday school for their children, and do not strive for a Christian full-time school, the Sunday school owes its origin to the laziness and ignorance of Christian parents. Those who have a truly awakened conscience will constantly strive to give their children not only an hour of religious instruction a week, but to have them in a Christian school every day of the week.”
Another said:
“The Sunday schools effect nothing but harm.”
The Earth Produces by itself.
The Earth Produces by itself.
Our job is to sow the word. I’m about to say something controversial here- the method of dissemination does not seem to make a huge difference. What matters is that we consistently and constantly point to the Word - Jesus.
SBUX founder Howard Schultz wrote in his book Onward: how Starbucks fought for its life without losing its soul said “Starbucks has always been about so much more than coffee. But without great coffee, we have no reason to exist.”
This is actually great for us as a church. Without Jesus as told to us in His word - we have no reason to exist. Further, without pointing to Jesus we will CEASE to exist as an organization and eventually- as living beings.
The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
The operative thing here is - by itself. Automatically. Thats literally what it says in the original language.
This is reassuring for you and I. When we are examining whether or not our sins are forgiven the word automatic should come to mind.
Did you hear the word’s ‘I forgive you in the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit.’
Did you receive communion for the forgiveness of sins?
Did God’s word fall upon you? Then yes. you are Automatically forgiven.
The lesson today is that you and I should, like Jesus rest. God’s word does not go out and die- it goes out and makes alive.
I’ll leave you with this practical application on the verge of our great congregational meeting and much change in your life as we re-enter society.
Luther- upon being asked about the fall of the Holy Roman empire and how he brought about the reformation replied:
Luther’s Works, Volume 44 Introduction to the Christian in Society
“All that I have done is to further, preach and teach God’s Word; otherwise I have done nothing. So it happened that while I slept or while I drank a glass of Wittenberg beer with my friend Philip [Melanchthon] and with Amsdorf, the papacy was weakened as it never was before by the action of any prince or emperor. I have done nothing; the Word has done and accomplished everything.… I let the Word do its work!”
Friends. Rest easy with all the changes in our world. Seek to know Christ by His word. He is at work. Amen.