Gospel | Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 (with Nick Locke)

Opening Song:
The Sower’s Song by Andrew Peterson and Ben Shive

Lyrics:
Oh God
I am furrowed like the field
Torn open like the dirt
And I know that to be healed
That I must be broken first
I am aching for the yield
That you will harvest from this hurt
Abide in me
Let these branches bear you fruit
Abide in me Lord
As I abide in You
So I kneel
At the bright edge of the garden
At the golden edge of dawn
At the glowing edge of spring
When the winter's edge is gone
And I can see the color green
I can hear the Sower's song
Abide in me
Let these branches bear Your fruit
Abide in me Lord
Let Your word take root
Remove in me
The branch that bears no fruit
And move in me Lord
As I abide in You
As the rain and the snow fall
Down from the sky
And they don't return but they water the earth
And bring they forth life
Giving seed to the sower bread for the hunger
So shall the word of the Lord
Be with a sound like thunder
And it will not return it will not return void
We shall be led in peace and go out with joy
And the hills before us will raise their voices
And the trees of the field
Will clap their hands as the land rejoices
And instead of the thorn now the cypress towers
And instead of the briar
The myrtle blooms with a thousand flowers
And it will make a name
Make a name for our God
A sign everlasting that will never be cut off
As the earth brings forth sprouts from the seed
What is sown in the garden grows into a mighty tree
So the Lord plants justice justice and praise
To rise before the nations till the end of days
As the rain and the snow fall
Down from the sky
And they don't return but they water the earth
And they bring forth life
Giving seed to the sower and bread for the hunger
So shall the word of the Lord
Be with a sound like thunder
And it will not return it will not return void
It will not return it will not return void
It will not return it will not return void
We shall be led in peace
And go out with joy
And the sower leads us
And the sower leads us
And the sower leads us

Passage:
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears,[a] let him hear.”

18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.[a] 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Musical Reflection:
Harp Meditation No. 2

Reflection Notes:
This modal meditation centers around an intervallic pattern in the right hand that is anchored by deep bass octaves in the left hand and occasional supportive harmonies. Though somewhat haunting, the melodic motif provokes reflection.

Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.