Barbara Brown Taylor says in "The Seeds of Heaven" that if the people were expecting to hear in depth theological discussion when they went to hear Jesus the day he told them the sower parable, they were disappointed because he told them stories from the everyday instead. In fact he offered them pieces of poetry and dream like pictures.
Perhaps these are more likely to be picked up by the soul. So here's a few of the 7 parables in this chapter of Matthew in limerick. I doubt Barbara Brown Taylor imagined them as this kind of verse but hey ho. Between each (there will be seeds being sown as a symbol throughout), verses from 'For the World and all her people' are sung. So here are some of the seven parables of Matthew 13 in poetry form ready for hearts to hear them.
For the world and all its people
we address our prayer to God
Confidently, all can worship
in the presence for the Lord
A farmer who went out to sow
sowed more than he could ever know
despite weeds and hard soil
and rocks and birds toil
his grain-sacks would soon overflow
There are some who never will hear
so listen if you have the ears
for these stories disclose
that the kingdom is close
and through them God’s way is made clear
All the powerless, all the hungry
are most precious to their God…
There was a man who was not very enthralled
By his mustard seed which seemed very small
but it put down some roots
and grew up some shoots
until it was tallest of all
And a woman who never could bake
found flat bread was all she could make
but adding yeast and some know-how
raised the dough, and then somehow
she discovered the flour was awake
For the poor, God has a purpose
for the desperate, a word…
There once was a man who sowed seed
and another who among them sowed weed
the seed became corn
and the weed became thorn
and the farmer knew not how to proceed
I’ll leave them to their own endeavour
But I’ll not leave them in there together
for when the season has turned
the weeds will be burned
but the grain will be stored up forever
Christ is here, and Christ is stronger
than the strength of sin or sword…
Each parable is an everyday story
sometimes gentle and sometimes a bit hoary
but can transform how we live
and together we give
the world hope and God all the glory
But there are some who never will hear
so listen if you have the ears
for these stories disclose
that the kingdom is close
and through them God’s way is made clear
God will fill the earth with justice
when our will and his accord…
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