Life Below DingleBurn: Seeds

Friday, October 2, 2009

Seeds

"But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom." -Luke 12:31-32

I confess that I began studying the Kingdom for the mercenary reason that lately "these things" have been in short supply. Or it's felt like it. From a purely factual standpoint that's grossly inaccurate, but emotionally.... the demon Worry knows no such reassurance.
Fortunately God is capitalizing on my humanness and taking me through the Parables for His own inestimable purposes. We started with the first one, the Parable of the Sower. It's the longest, and most expounded upon, a sort of easing into the mysteries with which He's about to riddle us. I looked up "Kingdom". Pretty straight forward. It means a realm. I looked up "Seed". Ah. Here was something interesting. Turns out the Greek for Seed means essentially sperm, with all the connotations of "being scattered" and "growth" and "offspring" attached. But Jesus says right off that in this case "Seed"=The Word of the Kingdom.

In a rapid cascade of understanding I gleaned this: the news of the Kingdom, i.e., the Word of God, is alive and active (as has been said before by actually-published personages), and, I conclude, therefore capable of begetting new life. Whole new "plants" as it were, which are themselves capable of begetting new life. (Ain't it fun to think of yourself as a "plant" in the kingdom of God?☺) It's as if we start as ground being seeded with the news of this Kingdom, we grow, the Seed produces fruit which is more Seed and viola! Suddenly we are the news! The Kingdom preached has come and it is us. Therefore in our telling of the Good News to others we invite them into a living, breathing body, a happenin' reality, of which they become the latest living part. Think about it! Wouldn't you rather be given an actual new life complete with a Great Constant and purpose and security and hope than simply fire insurance? What are we offering people? An alternative way of carrying on, or Life?!
I have no deft conclusion-- only a giant "Huzzah!" shouted in the face of all that would discourage me.

1 comment:

Elisabeth said...: I would argue that is BETTER than a conclusion!; October 2, 2009 at 4:00 PM

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