July 10 Pay it Forward, Backward, Sideways and Every Which Way

Dearest e-votees,

This Sunday's text includes Matthew's account of the parable of the sower and the interpretation (both relayed by Jesus).  Sunday's readings also includes Isaiah 55:10-11 which speaks of God's word going out like the rain and the snow and not returning (you know the water cycle--SCIENCE!!!) without accomplishing the purpose for which it is sent.

As recipients of God's good news and saving grace we get to go out as well and scatter seeds.  It is part of the calling we receive and are empowered to do in our baptisms.

Peace,

Karl

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Isaiah 55:10-11 (NRSV) says:

10  For 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, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty but shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

 

You may remember the 2000 movie "Pay It Forward" which you can find out about on IMDB (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0223897) which revolved around the idea of randomly doing three big favors for people you don't know exponentially releasing blessings and goodness into the world.

You may remember the movement based around the quotation "Practice random acts of kindness and senseless beauty" by Anne Herbert that was launched when she first wrote the quote on a placemat in Sausalito, CA (you can read more on this at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_act_of_kindness).

You may remember (or may not since it did not garner nearly the attention it should) the 2015 movie "Batkid Begins:  The Wish Heard Around the World" (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3884528) which documents the remarkable story of San Francisco turning into Gotham City for the day for the sake of granting the wish a young leukemia patient.  The contagious kindness and incredible outpouring of love are staggering.  Check it out.

What all of these things--Jesus' parable and interpretation, Isaiah's text, fictional movie, counter-cultural scrawling and incredible true documentary--have in common is that we don't know where things will take root, nor to what extent they will grow and multiply, nor to what the final impact will be.  What we have are calls and examples for us to go out and to share generously of the blessings we have received.

The story of the so called "Prodigal Son" is the story of one who wastefully squanders his inheritance (www.m-w.com defines "prodigal" as "characterized by profuse or wasteful expenditure").  Truth be told it is the father (cipher for God) who is the prodigal one (both when the son is departing and even more gloriously when the son returns) who is prodigal.  The sower of Jesus' parable is also prodigal in the scattering of seed.  We who have reaped so generously of God's prodigal blessings are in turn to go and be prodigal.

One thing to remember is this is part of taking up our cross and following after Jesus.  We deny ourselves in order to bless others.  Being generous and kind can have bad returns.  Look at Jesus on the cross.  Look at Haley Joel Osment's character who (SPOILER ALERT:) ends up dead and in a near cruciform position (hints of Pieta by Michelangelo as well when Helen Hunt enters the scene).  There are no guarantees that doing the right thing will keep us safe.  In fact, sometimes just the opposite.  But we do them nonetheless.  It is the way of Jesus. 

God thank you for all of your blessings.  Send us as agents of your blessing as well.  Thank you that you bring the growth and accomplish the purpose according to your ways and plans.  Amen.