OUR VOCATION? … TO BE A FARMER

If there ever was a super psychologist, an extraordinary one, it must have been that Rabbi from Nazareth, Jesus Christ. Facts from His life, prove this statement. He was just starting off on His Public Ministry when He gave proof of this. He did go to the Synagogue of Nazareth, as it was the norm; He went up, unrolled the scroll and starting reading from Isaiah. But His next appointment was not in the Synagogue, though He did go at other times.

Those attending the Talks and Lessons in the Synagogue, had to stay till the very end, that was the custom. But Christ thought otherwise, ‘How about going on the beach, by the sea, where many people will be working?’ And that is just what He did. Strolling on the beach anyone could get fed up and walk away. So He resorted to a ‘plan’; He started off by telling them a story, and as we all know Jews, adults and children alike, enjoyed listening to stories. Christ started teaching by telling them a ‘parable’. They were used to listening to parables. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

So here goes the master of parables. He started by drawing their attention to a farmer in a nearby field, who was sowing seeds. “Look,” He said’. Eyes were quickly turned, following Christ’s finger, to the farmer close by. That action itself included the crowd present as an active part of the parable. Some might have even known the farmer in question, his wife or children might have been present listening to the Rabbi, who knows?

Then He spoke about what the farmer was doing, sowing seeds, in fact the text of this Gospel did start with the word “Look”. He explained the normal procedure of sowing, but with a slight difference. Now tell me, what farmer in his right senses would throw seeds on the rocks, and amongst thorns. Along the wayside it’s very understandable. Because the wayside did not exist, it was part and parcel of the field itself, but people had to cross and automatically a certain area became a pathway.

But throwing seeds on the rocks and amongst thorns makes no sense at all, yet Jesus said it, so He must have had very good reasons for saying it. Do you know of any  person who himself admits that he is a blasphemer, a persecutor of Christians, one who enjoys slaughtering those who have a different religion or belief, that he finds sheer joy in beating and imprisoning people of all ages? Thank God if you do not know such people. But you have read about Saint Paul. All those atrocities are part of his CV before he converted, and he himself admits doing them. Now, was Saul not living among the rocks, he was for sure a big thorn. And yet he was converted and became the Apostle of the Gentiles, and his seed yielded a hundred-fold, if not more.

Have you ever thought how many persons who lived as great sinners, during their life time and now they are acknowledged as Saints by the Church. They lived among thorns and rock. To mention some; St.Mary of Egypt, a professional prostitute by the age of twelve; St. Olga of Russia and St.Vladimir; St. Augustine; St. Thomas Beckett; St. Philip Howard and a many others, on an endless list.

The farmer in the parable is Christ Himself, but we can and should spread the Word, on every occasion with anyone. Who knows what a good example might do, a right word in the proper tone and circumstance can go for such a long way. Now we are the farmers. Salvation is not reserved for myself alone, part of my salvation is attending to my brother’s needs. Doing one ‘such’ good deed a day does not simply make you a good ‘Boy Scout’ or ‘Girl Guide’, it’s more than that, it qualifies you for eternal happiness for saving one soul from amongst the rocks and thorns.