Paul Vargis
TyAh parables. How best to reach an oral culture only kind of coming into written records. And those written records are tied more to the authorities, the wealthy than the collected masses, or as Marx would dub us the proletariat. The working classes. These are the classes that Jesus of Nazareth, Brother Jesus would emerge from. AN unwed mother married to a carpenter/labourer to literally save her from an unkindly street death. But he was one that got it, connected deeply to the source of all that is. Showing the way that we all could be connected into the source of Love.
It is the parable that touched into the deeper levels of the person, and allowed for the early followers of the Cosmic Christ in the flesh so diverse. Just think of it—outcasts, those with health issues, mental health concerns; sex trade workers, labourers, wealthy religious (in secret), Roman soldiers/officers and Zealots to name but a few. It was this type of parable that the social gospel movement in Canada tied into to get folks active for political and societal change. For example the story of Mouseland, with one of the most famous being Tommy Douglas, but also among the ranks Bible Bill Aberhart, Preston Manning, Joe Clark, Pierre Trudeau, J.S. Woodsworth, Agnes MacPhail (her image now gracing the $10 Canadian note), Paul Martin Jr., Rev. Bill Phipps, Elizabeth May, my own parents and grandparents, to name but a few. But truly it is those driven by a deep conviction that we are created good, and as such we are to live out this ideal of justice, peace, faith, hope and love as laid out by Brother Jesus. So, I am sure there are many examples within your own world and life if you take but a moment to pause and ponder.
For it is in the parables that Brother Jesus lays out a path of self-discovery. A path that shows where we and our neighbours can be existing, but also at different phases in our lives where we have existed. For with planting soil changes over time, that which was not able to grow previous with the right tending and additions can become quite fertile. This is the thrust found within the parable of the sower.
It is in most gospel texts that one would class as canonical, so if you wish to use this reflection with those texts, they can be found in the synoptic gospels in: Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:1-15. Though we will continue to use Levi’s Aquarian gospel from the early 1900’s as the newer wording may touch a different chord. In that text it is found in chapter 115, which you may read here for full context
As always, I invite you to get comfortable where you are sitting. It is a meditative lectio divina as you hear the parable three times, with different focus questions to see where the soil of your heart is at, and where it is being renewed. Before you begin, write on a scrap of paper that which you need to leave in the hear and now that can distract you. Once written crumple up and throw into the recycle. Those distractions, busyness, weights of the heart can come back after, but here, now your full presence is asked for.
Take time to slow your breathing, deep breaths in of cosmic love, the dust that formed your very essence as good. Breathe out the chakra sludge that separates you from that goodness.
Feel the 21st century technological buzzing fade away. Feel the chair you are sitting on disappear, along with the walls of where you are. The time. Travel back. Feel the dust and fresh breeze untouched by the Industrial Revolution. Smell the sea air. The smell of the crowds, intermingling. You are on the outskirts of the crowd. People had spoken about this teacher, this Jesus of Nazareth. Some called him a bastard child and/or insane. Others said he was a master teacher, one with a new way to truly transform things.
As you hear the story the first time, think of when your heart was like the rocky soil where messages/actions of love were easily carried away by others, like the birds. Sit with one memory, what has or has not changed in your life since then?
The first hearing:
- And Jesus stood beside the sea and taught; the multitudes pressed close upon him and he went into a boat that was near by and put a little ways from shore, and then he spoke in parables; he said,
Behold, a sower took his seed and went into his field to sow.
3. With lavish hand he scattered forth the seed and some fell in the hardened paths that men had made,
4. And soon were crushed beneath the feet of other men; and birds came down and carried all the seeds away.
5. Some seed fell on rocky ground where there was little soil; they grew and soon the blades appeared and promised much;
6. But then there was no depth of soil, no chance for nourishment, and in the heat of noonday sun they withered up and died.
7. Some seed fell where thistles grew, and found no earth in which to grow and they were lost;
8. But other seed found lodgement in the rich and tender soil and grew apace, and in the harvest it was found that some brought forth a hundred fold, some sixty fold, some thirty fold.
9. They who have ears to hear may hear; they who hearts to understand may know.
10. Now, his disciples were beside him in the boat, and Thomas asked, Why do you speak in parables?
11. And Jesus said, My words, like every master’s words, are dual in their sense.
12. To you who know the language of the soul, my words have meanings far too deep for other men to comprehend.
13. The other sense of what I say is all the multitude can understand; these words are food for them; the inner thoughts are food for you.
14. Let every one reach forth and take the food that he is ready to receive.
15. And then he spoke that all might hear; he said, Hear you the meaning of the parable:
16. Men hear my words and understand them not, and then the carnal self purloins the seed, and not a sign of spirit life appears.
17. This is the seed that fell within the beaten paths of men.
18. And others hear the words of life, and with a fiery zeal receive them all; they seem to comprehend the truth and promise well;
19. But troubles come; discouragements arise; there is no depth of thought; their good intentions wither up and die.
20. These are the seeds that fell in stony ground.
21. And others hear the words of truth and seem to know their worth; but love of pleasure, reputation, wealth and fame fill all the soil; the seeds are nourished not and they are lost.
22. These are the seeds that fell among the thistles and the thorns.
23. But others hear the words of truth and comprehend them well; they sink down deep into their souls; they live the holy life and all the world is blest.
24. These are the seeds that fell in fertile soil, that brought forth fruit abundantly.
25. You men of Galilee, take heed to how you hear and how you cultivate your fields; for if you slight the offers of this day, the sower may not come to you again in this or in the age to come.
-Aquarian Gospel 115: 1-25
As you prepare for the second hearing. Think of the next step of life in self-discovery, within that inner battle of transfiguration. When have you been like the seed battling in the soil with the weeds to emerge and not taking hold? Let these memories move from your mind to your heart. Spend time with the root cause of rooting in the weeds instead of the seed of love? Are you ready to breathe out this sludge?
The second hearing:
- And Jesus stood beside the sea and taught; the multitudes pressed close upon him and he went into a boat that was near by and put a little ways from shore, and then he spoke in parables; he said,
Behold, a sower took his seed and went into his field to sow.
3. With lavish hand he scattered forth the seed and some fell in the hardened paths that men had made,
4. And soon were crushed beneath the feet of other men; and birds came down and carried all the seeds away.
5. Some seed fell on rocky ground where there was little soil; they grew and soon the blades appeared and promised much;
6. But then there was no depth of soil, no chance for nourishment, and in the heat of noonday sun they withered up and died.
7. Some seed fell where thistles grew, and found no earth in which to grow and they were lost;
8. But other seed found lodgement in the rich and tender soil and grew apace, and in the harvest it was found that some brought forth a hundred fold, some sixty fold, some thirty fold.
9. They who have ears to hear may hear; they who hearts to understand may know.
10. Now, his disciples were beside him in the boat, and Thomas asked, Why do you speak in parables?
11. And Jesus said, My words, like every master’s words, are dual in their sense.
12. To you who know the language of the soul, my words have meanings far too deep for other men to comprehend.
13. The other sense of what I say is all the multitude can understand; these words are food for them; the inner thoughts are food for you.
14. Let every one reach forth and take the food that he is ready to receive.
15. And then he spoke that all might hear; he said, Hear you the meaning of the parable:
16. Men hear my words and understand them not, and then the carnal self purloins the seed, and not a sign of spirit life appears.
17. This is the seed that fell within the beaten paths of men.
18. And others hear the words of life, and with a fiery zeal receive them all; they seem to comprehend the truth and promise well;
19. But troubles come; discouragements arise; there is no depth of thought; their good intentions wither up and die.
20. These are the seeds that fell in stony ground.
21. And others hear the words of truth and seem to know their worth; but love of pleasure, reputation, wealth and fame fill all the soil; the seeds are nourished not and they are lost.
22. These are the seeds that fell among the thistles and the thorns.
23. But others hear the words of truth and comprehend them well; they sink down deep into their souls; they live the holy life and all the world is blest.
24. These are the seeds that fell in fertile soil, that brought forth fruit abundantly.
25. You men of Galilee, take heed to how you hear and how you cultivate your fields; for if you slight the offers of this day, the sower may not come to you again in this or in the age to come.
-Aquarian Gospel 115: 1-25
Prepare yourself for the last hearing. When soil is fertile for the seed to take hold. Is there a time of remembrance in your life, your very soul energy that you can remember this? Even in the journeys that go to and fro where we exist mostly in rocks and weeds, there are glimmers of this or long lived life in the nourished soil. Take hold of the memories. Spend time going deeper into them to the core spark/stardust that is the ember of the Cosmic Christ within.
The Third Hearing:
- And Jesus stood beside the sea and taught; the multitudes pressed close upon him and he went into a boat that was near by and put a little ways from shore, and then he spoke in parables; he said,
Behold, a sower took his seed and went into his field to sow.
3. With lavish hand he scattered forth the seed and some fell in the hardened paths that men had made,
4. And soon were crushed beneath the feet of other men; and birds came down and carried all the seeds away.
5. Some seed fell on rocky ground where there was little soil; they grew and soon the blades appeared and promised much;
6. But then there was no depth of soil, no chance for nourishment, and in the heat of noonday sun they withered up and died.
7. Some seed fell where thistles grew, and found no earth in which to grow and they were lost;
8. But other seed found lodgement in the rich and tender soil and grew apace, and in the harvest it was found that some brought forth a hundred fold, some sixty fold, some thirty fold.
9. They who have ears to hear may hear; they who hearts to understand may know.
10. Now, his disciples were beside him in the boat, and Thomas asked, Why do you speak in parables?
11. And Jesus said, My words, like every master’s words, are dual in their sense.
12. To you who know the language of the soul, my words have meanings far too deep for other men to comprehend.
13. The other sense of what I say is all the multitude can understand; these words are food for them; the inner thoughts are food for you.
14. Let every one reach forth and take the food that he is ready to receive.
15. And then he spoke that all might hear; he said, Hear you the meaning of the parable:
16. Men hear my words and understand them not, and then the carnal self purloins the seed, and not a sign of spirit life appears.
17. This is the seed that fell within the beaten paths of men.
18. And others hear the words of life, and with a fiery zeal receive them all; they seem to comprehend the truth and promise well;
19. But troubles come; discouragements arise; there is no depth of thought; their good intentions wither up and die.
20. These are the seeds that fell in stony ground.
21. And others hear the words of truth and seem to know their worth; but love of pleasure, reputation, wealth and fame fill all the soil; the seeds are nourished not and they are lost.
22. These are the seeds that fell among the thistles and the thorns.
23. But others hear the words of truth and comprehend them well; they sink down deep into their souls; they live the holy life and all the world is blest.
24. These are the seeds that fell in fertile soil, that brought forth fruit abundantly.
25. You men of Galilee, take heed to how you hear and how you cultivate your fields; for if you slight the offers of this day, the sower may not come to you again in this or in the age to come.
-Aquarian Gospel 115: 1-25
Are you willing to take hold of that ember and fan it?
Are you able to live from that spark into and out of the divine?
When you are ready with that spark. Visualizing it moving through each of the seven chakras to firmly root in the opening/awakening crown chakra. Breath in deeply the love of all, breathe out the love of all. Feel the fresh air fade away. The breeze on your face stop. The noise of the crowds. You are the fertile soil the Master Sower has found.
Hold to this truth.
As you move forward through time.
As your room reforms around you.
Your chair.
Your breath slowly returns to normal.
Your eyes re-open.
Your very essence awakens.
Are you willing to truly live as the Master Sower has sowed you?
What are you going to do today to step into your destiny of love?
A Monk's Musings 