How times change. Just a few years ago, Time Magazine compiled a list of the most significant persons in history. Jesus came in #1. The top 5 included Shakespeare and Lincoln. The Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son’s father made the list, but not the farmer in today’s parable. Some thought he should have. And though I’m not sure this list would be the same today, I think it should also include “Anonymous”.
On one hand, “Anonymous” can break the law with impunity. Anonymous can slander and abuse without consequence. Anonymous can complain, threaten or leak private information. Anonymous knows how to avoid taking responsibility.
On the other hand, Anonymous has given us wonderful poems and sayings through the years. My file is full of interesting stuff from Anonymous such us: You Know It’s a Bad Day When…the bird singing outside your window is a buzzard…your car horn gets stuck while driving behind a motorcycle gang…and 911 puts you on hold. Anonymous defines “coincidence” as when God chooses to remain anonymous. Interesting thought as we consider today’s parable about a farmer…
Anonymous also tells stories like this one that relates to our scripture: Jesus got into a boat, sat in it, and told the people many things in stories that teach a lesson, called parables. He told them of a farmer who went out to sow his seed…. But then, Anonymous adds this to make a point – A [disciple] said: Do we have to write this down? Another: Are we supposed to remember all this? Yet another asked: What if I don’t understand? Another: So, which is worse, the rocky or thorny ground? One challenged Jesus’ math: Maybe 30 or 60, but 100 times? No way! And another asked: What does this have to do with real life anyway? So, Jesus did not do many miracles there because they lacked faith – and Jesus wept.
Anonymous cleverly picked up on the questions this can raise, understanding that 1st century Galileans would know that a farmer sows seed before plowing. One did not know the nature of the soil until it was turned. The point here is how receptive one is to the message about the kingdom.
It so happens that there was an ancient writer known as Anonymous who wrote an incomplete commentary on Matthew’s gospel. His writing was readable and down-to-earth. All we know about him is that he wanted to help people be receptive to God’s Word. When the theologian, Aquinas, was given a tour of Paris, he said he would rather have a complete work of Anonymous’ commentary than to be mayor of that fair city. That’s how significant Anonymous was to some in the church. You probably never heard of him because – well, he was… anonymous! LOL!
Regrettably, Anonymous pointed out, there are those who blame the church for their unbelief. They excuse the poor condition of their “soil”. They blame the farmer, the God who sows and has always sown, or devils swooping down. He called them “careless souls”, for devils only snatch away what we neglect or hold in contempt. We are careless, Anonymous said, when we do not plant the farmer’s seed deep in the soil of our hearts.
A farmer was standing on the steps of his shack when a stranger stopped for a drink of water and asked why he had no corn. The farmer replied that he was afraid there wouldn’t be enough rain. “Well, how are your potatoes?” asked the man. “Don’t have any. Scared of the potato bugs.” “What did you plant?” asked the man. “Nothing,” said the farmer. “I just played it safe.”
As we look across our local farms and fields, we know they were once filled with rocks and thorns that had to be painstakingly removed in order to be farmed. If they had done nothing, we would not have the crops today. Think of Olive St. Garden where soil is laboriously and lovingly cultivated so that seeds might grow into crops to be enjoyed by the community. That’s not playing it safe. That’s cultivating soil – and souls.
Discipleship is like that. We must not be careless with the gospel or neglect it, as some do. We must leave no opportunity for devils to snatch it away. Nor can we submit to shallow Biblical teaching, but be intentional about removing obstacles that choke faith.
Anonymous spoke to trusting the farmer and cultivating soil by listening to God’s Word. Anonymous also warned not to let thorns of fear hold us back from a commitment to church, because here there is such a thing as the rock changing to become rich soil. Here, by God’s grace, thorns may be destroyed and the seed enjoy security. Here it is possible that the path no longer be trampled upon but become fertile soil.
It is important to be here today, after all we have been through, to again come together as a worshiping people to receive His message of hope and promise. Anonymous still speaks, telling us that our efforts will bear crops in this field of ours if we are not careless. This is why I would have Anonymous on the list – and Jesus still #1.