Synod Sermon July 12

Gospel: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 1That same day went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9Let anyone with ears listen!”

18“Hear then the . 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

When you had no idea…

• You’ve had the experience in a job interview, or an oral exam at school – it’s your turn to answer a question and you give it your best shot… and afterward you walk out of the room and mutter to your friend who’s waiting, “I have no idea how that went!!” • Or this: A good friend has just lost a family member unexpectedly. You’re torn: you want to go be with your friend… but you shrink back, because you have no idea what to say… no words… • Or this: someone you’re talking with suddenly blurts out one of two things: either some gushing thanks or complement for what you have done, or a blistering accusation of something really horrid or resented or hurtful that you said or did… and you had no idea where either of those was coming from…

It’s happened to all of us. And when it does, most of us are left wishing that we were like so- and-so who always seems to be so confidently in control, so able to say the right things and the right time.

I’ll tell you something: that person doesn’t exist. It may appear so, but no one is ever in command of their interaction with others. It’s not in the cards.

And here’s a big part of the reason why: communication is two way. Your mouth is only half of it – there are a pair of ears – or lots of them – on the other end of what you say, and you have no idea what kind of filters are there, what the screen is like for your words and your meaning to get through those filtering ears into the brain behind them.

I think most of you know what I’m talking about. So I’ll quit this little essay on communication skills and switch gears.

Jesus’ teaching to the folks he was speaking to was on just this point. The disciples a a couple chapters earlier had been sent out, and Jesus continued to talk about going out to proclaim good news… so this was a mini=seminary lesson for those about to go preach. And he explains that their job was to do the proclaiming… but it was out of their hands exactly how what they were saying would be received. He used the parables to illustrate. And he must have been real concerned that they get the point because he even explains the parable, which is the only time he does it! The farmer went out to spread seeds around to bring forth new growth. Some of the seeds • got eaten up right away by birds • some fell on rocks and sprouted but then withered • some fell among thorns/weeds and grew but got overwhelmed by the weeds • and a few actually made it. And then Jesus explained: you can preach your heart out… • some simply aren’t interested • some get all excited and then pretty soon something else excites them • some take it seriously but the force of the culture squeezes it out • and some have faith that is nourished and continues to grow because of it.

Ask your pastor about whether this describes the preaching task!

So now I’m going to do two things: I’m going to pivot to the Old Testament lesson for a minute and talk specifically to pastors, though the rest of you can listen in… And then I’m going to point out that though this sounds like it’s all geared to preachers, it’s not. The is a book of faith for all people. True for these lessons as well.

So here’s the OT reading that accompanies this lesson:

First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-13 10For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

12For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the LORD for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

This is what happens to the “word that goes out from my mouth” – “it does not return to me empty. In all the installations and ordinations that I’ve had the privilege of being part of, I think this is my favorite reading. Every preacher ought to have this in front of them as they do the ponderous work of preparing a sermon, or a bible study, or get ready for a confirmation class (maybe especially that!). What you do matters. What you say matters. And you may have no idea of whether anything comes from any of this. But the stirring of faith isn’t up to you. It’s not you who succeeds or doesn’t. It’s the spirit’s work. We just proclaim, best we can, imperfect as we are. And what happens to it afterward…. Well, we have God’s promise that something happens to it – “it does not return to me empty!” The earth is watered by it! Always be clear of the promise – “it does not return empty, but will accomplish that which I purpose.” It isn’t up to you to know just what it purposes… it’s enough to know that the God we proclaim lives inside those words… and promises that something happens from them. End of side-message to pastors.

But remember what I said a minute ago: these verses aren’t just written as a private message to pastors – this is for God’s people: “my word will not return empty… it shall accomplish that which I purpose…”

Surveys tell us that upper-midwst Lutherans are among the most shy of anyone talking about what we believe. Too risky, maybe too embarrassing, I don’t know enough, what if they don’t’ like what I say… So we say very little. We’re like the old farmer who said “That day I was so overwhelmed by how much I love my wife that I almost told her!” I saw a survey a while back that said the typical Lutheran will talk to someone else about their faith about once ever 2-3 years. Why? Maybe because we have no idea just what to say, worried how it will be taken, don’t want to be vulnerable, or make others uncomfortable… But the seed is never going to grow in another person’s life if you don’t give it a chance – throw it on the ground. What happens to it isn’t your responsibility. You share what is inside you. “My word does not return to me empty, but will accomplish that which I purpose.” It doesn’t say “if your word is good enough…” It just said it will have an impact. It matters. Step out in that faith.

So knowing that, let’s go back to that friend whose loved one died, whom you want to support, but don’t know what to say. Here it is: it really doesn’t much matter what you say: you will communicate your love and care by the very act of going there, of being present with them… and then, in the presence, whatever you say, you rest back in the promise: your words will not return empty, but will accomplish that which God purposes!

These days we aren’t present with others. Phone calls and zoom meetings aren’t really the same as actually being with someone – it may be harder to know if what you’re wanting to say is getting across. But entering into that relationship, that conversation, that counts for something, and maybe that’s everything.

We will continue to be surprised by the effect things we say have. But we are sent into this world to say things to one another, to share our sense of God’s presence in our lives, to proclaim the God we have come to know in Jesus. Doesn’t matter how you say it. It doesn’t have to tbe a doctoral thesis, or a polished piece of oratory… just say it… live it… show it. And God will use it.

And the peace of God that passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Peter Rogness