Proper 10

There have been lots of news stories this year about new technologies designed to help us all communicate better. Many of these stories proclaim that artificial intelligence, or AI, will revolutionize the way we communicate, whether through writing emails or articles or using social media. Now all of that is well and good, but what happens if your technology doesn’t understand you?

Back in 2003, when much of today’s communication technology was still being developed, a police department in Louisiana had to temporarily replace its advanced voice recognition call system with a lower-tech substitute. Why? Because their fancy new technology couldn’t understand Southern accents.

The Shreveport, Louisiana, Police Department added high-tech voice recognition equipment to their call center that would let people request different departments or individual people within the police department. The purpose was to route non-emergency calls to the right people easily, so that emergency calls could get through faster.

But the voice recognition system couldn’t understand the Southern drawl very well, so it frequently re-routed calls to the wrong person or department. Captain John Dunn, who oversaw the Shreveport Police Department’s police communications, said, “In Louisiana, we have a problem with Southern drawl and what I call lazy mouth. Because of that, the system often doesn’t recognize what (callers) say.”

Mike Campbell, who was the Interim Police Chief at the time, said, “I can count on one hand when I have been transferred to where I’ve wanted to go, and I know the system.  I can imagine how frustrating it would be for an ordinary citizen.” So, if you have ever had difficulty understanding someone with a thick accent of any kind, you are not alone.

And sometimes, the problem isn’t that our technology can’t hear us or understand us. Sometimes humans can hear the correct information but miss the point entirely.

A woman named Judi Gaudio shares a story about how her husband, Greg, left his office job to start a home business. The Gaudios explained to their two little daughters that Daddy had an office in the basement now, and people paid him to do projects from home. They thought this explanation was good enough, until the day Judi heard their three-year-old daughter tell a friend, “Daddy doesn’t have to go to work anymore. He just makes money in the basement.”

That three-year-old’s honest mistake reminds us that there is a big difference between hearing information and understanding it. Many people heard Jesus’ message but were unable or unwilling to understand what Jesus was all about.

It’s interesting to note that, in today’s Gospel passage, Jesus taught about misunderstanding his message to a very large crowd. Many people were attracted to Jesus’ ministry for the wrong reasons. His teachings were unexpected. His miracles were exciting. He challenged the local religious leaders. For these reasons and more, large crowds followed him everywhere he went. Everybody wanted to see what he would do next.

But Jesus wasn’t fooled by his own popularity. He knew that even if big crowds heard his teachings, only a small number of them actually understood him. And a much smaller number lived according to his teachings. Anyone can be a fan; few actually become followers.

How about us? How would our lives look if we completely understood Jesus’ message and put those teachings into practice? More importantly, how would we impact others’ lives if we lived out the message of Christ’s kingdom? Listen to Jesus’ teachings like you were hearing his words for the first time and see whether you’re on the right track.

In today’s parable, Jesus depicts a sower (God) sowing seeds of grace over the entire terrain (the world’s people). The seeds are all the same. God isn’t bestowing better seeds here than there or more fruitful ones on some than others. All the seeds are sown with good intent.

But where they land matters. The state of the “soil” (of one’s heart)….matters.

The readiness of a person to receive and understand that gift of God’s grace at that time and place …..matters.

This scripture is unusual in that it shows us not only Jesus’ parable but his ensuing explanation to his inquiring disciples. Some seeds fall on the path, some on rocky ground with no depth, some among thorns, and some on good soil.

Jesus explains that in the case of the seeds on the path, they have no soil whatsoever to sink into. That person hears the words but does not understand, so God’s gift has no chance to sink into the heart at all before their experience simply floats away – out of sight, out of mind.

These are like the people who come to church, daydream through the sermon, and go on with their week with no significant change whatsoever. In one ear and out the other, as the saying goes. Such folks are content with a superficial-style Christianity. Their practice has no effect on their hearts or their lives, and their behavior shows it.

Second, Jesus explains that the seeds that fall into rocky terrain are like those who hear God’s word, get it and are momentarily filled with joy. They may even begin to put some initial time and energy into the church, but as soon as they experience any trouble in their lives, they blame God and fall away. Their faith is not strong enough to see them through. They have not allowed Jesus into their hearts in any real or tangible way. As long as things go well, they are willing to subscribe to the “faith.” But they haven’t anchored their hearts in a truly trusting way in relationship with God. So, the moment things get tough, or their problems don’t disappear,  they simply fall away. Or it may be that they face a tragedy or crisis in their lives and they have no spiritual and emotional resources to handle it.

Third, Jesus explains that the seeds that fall into thorny ground likewise have trouble maintaining faith. In this case, people may like what they hear, but the lures of the world seem like more fun, a better deal, a more instant reward, or a nicer situation. Or they may look at the issues facing the world today and become distracted from God’s mission. They may see so much negativity that they fail to believe in God’s presence and power. They struggle so much to ward off thorns that they have no time to receive the gifts of joy, peace, hope, and love that God’s word offers. Their faith “chokes.”

Finally, Jesus explains the seeds that fall upon good soil, soil that allows them to sink in, grow roots, grip the earth, and draw on its sustenance. These form a sturdy root system that anchors the plant so securely that nothing can bring it down. These are people who, when they hear about God’s gift of grace, take it immediately to heart. They open their hearts to Jesus and allow him to come in and take root in their souls.

They grasp onto God and secure their faith in him, drawing on his love and care to see them through every calamity, storm, wind, or rain. They will prevail, they will grow, they will yield love and exude peace in their lives and in their churches.

For these kinds of disciples, faith is like gripping onto a sturdy rope and securing it around the waist, so that go high or go deep, they never become detached. They may not be able to prepare for every calamity, but their faith readies them to face whatever comes their way.

When your faith roots itself in your heart, if you are rooted securely and firmly in Jesus and his amazing gift of life, nothing can shake you, defeat you, or tear you away from your everlasting hope and God’s persistent love. No matter what happens in your life, what battles you encounter or what foes you face, when your faith is rooted in Jesus, nothing can bring you down.

God’s grace falls upon all people. But whether you are ready to understand it and receive it depends upon the state of your heart.

Today, I ask you to consider the readiness of your heart. Take time and go deep into that place inside where you are most vulnerable. Open your heart to Jesus and allow him in. When you do, you will almost feel your roots begin to grow, your life begin to anchor, your trust begin to flourish, and your behavior begin to change.

And the beauty that you share, the pungent aroma that you release into the world and all those around you, will reveal who you are – a child of God, ready for anything.