Mixed Results
Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” Mark 4:1-8
Reflection
Just about everything I’ve ever done has had mixed results. In school, I did better in some classes than others. Some of my relationships have been successful, while some could easily qualify as failures. I have experienced different levels of achievement over the course of my career. There have been times when I wanted to give up on certain classes, relationships, or jobs. No doubt you have had similar experiences. It is easy to become depressed or despondent when we find ourselves failing to achieve our goals. As we follow the path of invitation, we may be especially prone to discouragement. But no matter how many times we are disappointed, that doesn’t mean we can give up. Most of us have already learned this lesson for life in general: Just because you give up on one thing doesn’t mean you should give up on everything. There is always another opportunity, a chance to try again, and the possibility of doing things differently. In spite of the pain of failure, the possibility of further learning or success calls us forward. In life, none of us experience success all the time or in everything. Even so, we keep trying to succeed, believing that our efforts will eventually be rewarded. That is the message of today’s scripture.
In his parable about the sowing of seed, Jesus gives us a picture of mixed results. This is meant to symbolize the way people respond to the invitation to God’s kingdom. There are people who will let the invitation go in one ear and out the other without giving a response or showing interest. Others will respond with enthusiasm but never follow through. Some will be too preoccupied with other concerns to ever take Jesus’ invitation seriously. And yet there will be others who hear the invitation and respond in the affirmative, living lives that glorify God and produce good results. The idea of seed producing a crop “multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times” is phenomenal. In Jesus’ day especially, seed didn’t produce that kind of yield. What Jesus is saying is that, even though many people will ultimately refuse our invitation, those who do will be very fruitful. Their lives will be changed, and the positive effect they have will be substantial. Even though it is sad when people refuse the invitation to God’s kingdom, we must be true to our mission because it makes all the difference in the world. We need never be discouraged when people reject the invitation to experience God in Christian community, because the impact of those who say “yes” will more than make up for those who say “no.”
Activity
Review the successes and failures you have had in your life. You almost certainly have had your share of both. What have you learned from the failures? What have your successes taught you? Would you be the same person you are today without them both? Consider how even our failures in the ministry of invitation can teach us and become opportunities for growth.
Prayer
Welcoming God, You continually reach out to us in love: You invite every person to experience your goodness and grace. Have mercy on me when I lose sight of the infinite worth of each person. Help me to walk the path of Jesus by extending your invitation to others and by joining them on their journey. Enable me to persist in this ministry without becoming discouraged. Thank you that all our efforts will bring about a worthwhile result: in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Key Thought: Although we may be discouraged when the invitation is refused, we can trust that the overall results will be well worth the effort.
