Faith Mutters Word For the Week: ON GOOD SOIL

More often than not, when I claim to write words to interpret one of Jesus’ parables, I fail.

Good claim. Bad delivery.

Today was no exception. How much do my “high expectations” have to do with that sower tossing seeds hither and yon? I’m not sure.

But parables, and other made-up marvels, don’t have just one explanation. With Matthew 13: 3-9, what I saw in it was me.

In the reading of the parable, I became fascinated with tossing my expectations onto thorns and hard pan. I do that so much. I allow my unrealistic, and often selfish, dreams to twist into nightmares.

But, every once in a while, God—the One with Holy Humor—elbows me toward the good soil. The moment of grace. The place where real laughter is shared or real tragedy is confronted.

+ Faith Mutters +

Religion is weird. Though Christian, and more familiar with Christian traditions, I am confident all faiths are equally "weird." If someone asked two Muslims to explain the Five Pillars of Islam I wouldn't be surprised if the answers sounded like there were six or seven or even ten pillars. Quiz two or more Christians about Jesus' virgin birth and I'll bet there will be contradictory explanations. One person's conclusion can be another person's confusion.

However, the "weird" words of religions are also--if the letters are slightly rearranged--how each faith is "wired." A Christian is "wired" to view the Bible with two testaments. A Jew might think that "weird."

With Faith Mutters, I will endeavor to "define" words I use or misuse in my And Yet reflections.

Or maybe, on some weeks, I'll just randomly choose a weird word I've heard or read and share a real (or imagined?) explanation.

A new Faith Mutters should appear by the end of Monday, and will usually be based on the prior Friday's And Yet.

However, there are two words/phrases I will always have on the Faith Mutters page: Lectionary and And Yet. Both may be "weird" for first time readers. And, anyhow, all of it is just me trying to mutter a few feeble words of faith.

What is The LECTIONARY?

“Generally, a lectionary is a list of scriptural texts (called "lections") recommended for use in worship or study on a particular day. Christian lectionaries are usually built around the Church Year, but they are sometimes centered on the secular calendar (as with programs that guide a person through reading the Bible in a year). Christian lectionaries generally include a reading from the Hebrew Bible, a Psalm, a reading from the Epistles, and a Gospel reading.” (That quote is from the VANDERBILT DIVINITY LIBRARY. Visit ‘em . . . it’s a great resource.) Another excellent resource, with abundant and eclectic lectionary material is TEXTWEEK.

I use the lectionary as a direct or indirect inspiration for my “And Yet” reflections. Click on the highlighted scripture(s) if you wish to read them.

What about AND YET?

As a conjunction, the phrase and yet connects two parts of a sentence or thought. When “and yet” (or its grammatical siblings like “nevertheless” or “however”) appears, it bridges the two "parts" to declare more is coming.

I always use the phrase And Yet (at least once) in my weekly reflections to help remember that with God, there is always "more." I believe, in God's realm of love, that even the worst news is never the last news.