We are all familiar with the parable of the sower (Matt 13:8-12; Mark 4:3-9, 16-20; Luke 8:4-8,11-15) and often we skim over it, let’s pause and meditate! A Sower sowed good seed, some fell on the path and the birds pecked it up. Some landed on a rocky area with thin soil where it got toasted by the sun. The plants growing from good seed but surrounded with weeds failed to produce a harvest. However, some good seed enjoyed deep, rich soil and produced an abundant harvest. The good seed is God’s word. The various types of soil are people. The good seed landing on the path describes people who hear the word but it goes in one ear and out the other; satan keeps them from understanding. The thin soil people hear the word and get excited about it but don’t go home and build a foundation on God’s word. When they encounter criticism and persecution for their beliefs or face trials and tribulations they stumble and lose focus on the word. The people represented by weedy soil are those distracted by life’s demands, pleasures, riches and the desire for things other than God. These all prevent growth into a productive Christian life. Finally, and happily, there are Christian folk who receive God’s word, meditate on it and make it a priority; these are the people where the good seed found good soil. These people grow into mature Christians, ambassadors for Jesus. Let’s pray we all grow into this last category, on fire for God, lights shining brightly in the world around us.