Good Seed, Part 1
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
The book, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis, features the Lion named Aslan. The Lion is the representation of Jesus Christ’s grace and power. Young Lucy and Sister Susan finds themselves in Narnia being introduced to Aslan by Mr. and Mrs. Beaver.
The introduction goes like this: “You’ll understand when you see him.” Says Mr. Beaver. And Susan asks, “But shall we see him?” “Why, Daughter of Eve, that’s what I brought you here for. I’m to lead you where you shall meet him,” said Mr. Beaver. “Is--is he a man?” asked Lucy. “Aslan a man!” said Mr. Beaver sternly. “Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion--the Lion, the great Lion.”
“Ooh!” said Susan, “I’d thought he was a man. Is he--quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.” “That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver. “If there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.” “Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy. “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe
We find out in this exchange that Aslan is good despite being unsafe. The farmer in the parable is Jesus. Jesus sows good seed in the hearts of humanity; and God’s goodness should not be seen as impotent, but a powerful force for good.
James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
Christ’s goodness and power give us the assurance that God’s presence is not elusive. God is within us. Jesus says in Luke 17:20-21, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
The kingdom of heaven is within you.
Leo Tolstoy points out, The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity by the recognition and profession of the truth by every man.” (The Kingdom of God within You, 368). The truth: God planted good seed in you. You are innately good; and God helps the good to flourish within and through you.
My next blog will discuss how the good may express itself with great bravado in midst of bad times.