The Inevitable, Abundant Harvest of Love
- davidwperk
- Oct 28
- 6 min read
Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Proper 25, the week of the twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:
3And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. . . . 8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 990)
AM Psalm 45; PM Psalm 47, 48
Ezra 5:1-17; Rev. 4:1-11; Matt. 13:1-9
Today we celebrate the Feast of Simon and Jude. (See below.)
David's Reflections
Jesus spoke of the coming of God’s reign on earth with a variety of parables and images. Several of his parables liken that coming to the growth of seed, focusing on the small seed beginnings contrasted with the abundant harvest. In today’s parable with four types of soil, it would seem unthinkable, even for a peasant with little land, to cultivate a piece of ground with only 25% good soil. The majority of the soil must have been promising. The story image becomes a bit clearer if we could be sure of the ancient farming practice of plowing only after sowing. That would explain seed falling among thorns, etc.
Jesus spins off four scenarios for the seed, three of which are negative, but we are not to think of the four scenarios as indicating equal portions of ground for each outcome of sowing. The farmer would broadcast the wheat seed indiscriminately, perhaps before plowing, over his small patch of land, separated from other parcels by footpaths, thickets, etc.
When the sower walked along, birds would whirl overhead and snatch up a few seed. A few seed might fall on the path between fields, where they could not sprout, easy prey for the circling birds A few might fall into a spot where the thickets would spring up again. Some might fall on a patch of ground with the underlying layer of stone near the surface. But, most of the seed would fall on the good soil and produce mature wheat.
Jesus' numbers, hundredfold, sixty fold, thirty fold, were deliberately exaggerated. Tenfold would have been considered a bountiful harvest. The parables often contain exaggerations or irrational elements--hints to the reader of divine abundance and divine activity.
What does this parable say to us? Jesus was the original sower, and look what a crop sprang up from that life! God sows the seeds of love and of the saving message of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection everywhere in the world. The powers of darkness within us and about us resist that planting in every way possible, so the work of sharing Christ's love involves spiritual conflict. Yet, no amount of resistance can prevent the inevitable. Seed and soil are made for each other. God's love and the human spirit are made for each other.
Jesus challenges us to focus, not on the losses, but on the immense possibilities for harvest. This parable, and other seed parables, encouraged me as the start-up priest for a new church in metro Richmond, Virginia. Just sow the seed and trust it and we would see an abundant harvest. This kept me going and assured me that this new effort would succeed. And it did, sprouting into All Souls Episcopal Church. The thought of ultimate failure simply did not take root.
God's love expressed in lives of faithfulness, in Christian witness, in the quiet, persistent wooing voice of God's Spirit, always generates a response all out of proportion to what we expect or imagine. People starve for God, like seed and soil crave one another. Wherever God's love bubbles up in the lives of faithful people, others will be drawn there.
Also, when the seeds of God's love find root within our lives, those seeds are going to grown within and produce a fruitful harvest of peace, joy, and transformation. We cannot help but change and become different. Just as the love of other people marks and changes us, so does the love of God. And, God's love may come to us in rather profound ways through others.
If our church experience, our corporate worship, our community life, bubble with God's love and if we allow our enthusiasm for God, an evidence of that love, to show in our relationships, people will find their way to God's love through us. Whom do you know who starves for God's love, whose life gives every evidence of wounding, caughtness, loneliness? Pray for them. Invest in them. Love them. Invite them. Hope for their responding to God’s love.
The Collect of the Day, Proper 25, the twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 235)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Simon and Jude, Apostles.
Collect of the Feast of Simon and Jude
O God, we thank you for the glorious company of the apostles, and especially on this day for Simon and Jude; and we pray that, as they were faithful and zealous in their mission, so we may with ardent devotion make known the love and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Collect for Peace
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)
For those who suffer for the sake of Conscience
O God our Father, whose Son forgave his enemies while he was suffering shame and death: Strengthen those who suffer for the sake of conscience; when they are accused, save them from speaking in hate; when they are rejected, save them
from bitterness; when they are imprisoned, save them from despair; and to us your servants, give grace to respect their witness and to discern the truth, that our society may be cleansed and strengthened. This we ask for the sake of Jesus
Christ, our merciful and righteous Judge. Amen. (BCP, 823)
A Prayer for Light
Almighty God, we give you thanks for surrounding us, as daylight fades, with the brightness of the vesper light; and we implore you of your great mercy that, as you enfold us with the radiance of this light, so you would shine into our hearts the brightness of your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)
A Collect for Mission
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (BCP, 100)
Daily Office Gospel, Matthew 13:1-9
13:1That same day Jesus 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!’
Daily Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, The Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, page 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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