Today’s readings.. (1 Samuel 25), ( Jeremiah 2), (Matthew 13)

Our world is becoming full of people without “roots” – people who are restless, ever looking for new experiences, until the pandemic, they were building ever larger airports to cope with all the travellers, the hotel trade was booming, all around evidence of the Mammon God being worshipped, but one day soon it will fall on its knees like Dagon of old. (1 Sam. 5)

Daniel wrote that “at the time of the end many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall increase” [12 v.4].

Our thoughts were provoked into following along these lines by points made in today’s chapter of parables in Matthew 13. There are 8 parables in all in this chapter, they are stories with a “moral” message.

The disciples ask Jesus for explanations. The most familiar of his parables is the story of the scattering of the seed (God’s word) on different types of ground. One type is “rocky ground, where they had no depth of soil, and immediately they (the seeds) sprang up” [v.5] Jesus explains this refers to “the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he (or she) has no root in himself, but endures for a while … ” [v.20,21]

Sadly we can see increasing examples of this, these are those who are converted and are at first enthusiastic for God’s word, but who fail to develop a root system for the seed: it should have been able to obtain nutrients from the soil so that the plant could keep on growing. How many have received seed – and were at first joyful about it, but that joy soon faded, they failed to develop any root system to enable the plant to develop.

God’s word provides an abundance of nutrients so that we can develop “roots” in our minds. How much time do we spend each day eating literal food? Three meals a day in most cases. And spiritual food? Do you take a packed lunch to work or school or wherever? Any spiritual snacks?

We hope our thoughts provide at least a snack each day – one that makes you hunger in your mind for more so that you make sure at least one good spiritual meal occurs at some stage. Today’s 8 parables provide lots of food for thought. A “harvest time” is coming when the Lord “will tell the reapers … gather the wheat into my barn.” [v.30] . Let’s be ready for harvest time.