yield

That day Jesus went out of the house and sat down beside the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he climbed into a boat and sat down. The whole crowd was standing on the shore. He said many things to them in parables: “A farmer went out to scatter seed. As he was scattering seed, some fell on the path, and birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on rocky ground where the soil was shallow. They sprouted immediately because the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up, it scorched the plants, and they dried up because they had no roots. Other seed fell among thorny plants. The thorny plants grew and choked them. Other seed fell on good soil and bore fruit, in one case a yield of one hundred to one, in another case a yield of sixty to one, and in another case a yield of thirty to one. Everyone who has ears should pay attention.” “Consider then the parable of the farmer. Whenever people hear the word about the kingdom and don’t understand it, the evil one comes and carries off what was planted in their hearts. This is the seed that was sown on the path. As for the seed that was spread on rocky ground, this refers to people who hear the word and immediately receive it joyfully. Because they have no roots, they last for only a little while. When they experience distress or abuse because of the word, they immediately fall away. As for the seed that was spread among thorny plants, this refers to those who hear the word, but the worries of this life and the false appeal of wealth choke the word, and it bears no fruit. As for what was planted on good soil, this refers to those who hear and understand, and bear fruit and produce—in one case a yield of one hundred to one, in another case a yield of sixty to one, and in another case a yield of thirty to one.” (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, CEB)

What does the word yield in your life?

It is interesting that Jesus tells the parable to a crowd and then something else happens, and then the disciples ask him, what did the parable mean?

We hear and don’t understand, that is the devil. Rocky ground is the word having no root in our lives and they fall away when everything isn’t always great. Thorny plants are the worries of life that keep people from believing the promises and having faith, and good soil produces a bumper crop. For those who know that life will be hard and Jesus never said that life would be easy or without pain, but his burden was light and his yoke would help. When we know that God is always with us we can produce love and mercy to share in a world that needs love and mercy.

Let us all be beacons of grace, mercy, and love. Knowing that God is always with us.

Loving People. Loving God.