PENTECOST XVIII
October 9, 2022
“Sharing the Abundant Harvest”
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world and those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers. (Psalm 24:1-2)
It’s harvest time in Iowa, and as we hear news reports of how much of the corn and soybean crops are in, the quality of the products, and what the prices are, it’s easy to think of the whole process as a business operation. And in many ways, I suppose, it is. But not many businesses are so intimately dependent and involved with the natural environment, and for most farmers, their work is much more than a job — it’s a way of life.
Almost every fall we hear of a farmer who has been ill or injured, and the neighbors organize to harvest his crops, preserving his livelihood. To see those huge combines rolling through the fields, making short work of acres and acres of corn and soybeans is a remarkable sight. And knowing that busy, hard-working people with their own fields to work are donating their time and equipment to help a neighbor, we are seeing Jesus’ teachings in action.
You may have heard the expression, “Buy land. They’re not making any more of it,” when people are talking about financial investments. At the very least, the expression might be, “Take care of the land. What we have is all we’ll get.” To value and appreciate the land is to recognize and be grateful for the beauty and richness of all of God’s creation. People and their land — or the land they wish to possess — are recurring themes throughout history. Archaeological discoveries, historic documentation, biblical accounts, or community and family lore all have a common denominator — people and the land.
We read in Genesis that God placed Adam and Eve in the most beautiful place on earth — the Garden of Eden. When the Hebrew people escaped from decades of slavery in Egypt, they were promised “a land flowing with milk and honey,” — a lavish way of describing the richness of their destination. And the stories continue — suffering in times of crop failure and drought, prosperity and comfort when yields are abundant, shepherds leading sheep to good pastures and clean water. The connection is always the land, as at times people misused it, at other times cared for it, but always depended on it.
Throughout Jesus’ ministry, his listeners heard parables that used images of planting and harvesting, weeding and watering, and heard themselves encouraged to be the “good soil” — the ones who hear the word and understand it, who thrive and bear fruit.
As the harvest of our rich land continues, let’s take some time to reflect on ways we can be that good soil. Our own faith is strengthened and nurtured through worship, study, service, and sharing Christ’s message with others. As we grow from little seedlings to full-sized plants, our opportunities will change as well, so let’s be ready to both grow and sow!
Loving every day, grateful for the beauty surrounding us,
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers