Advent Basket Day 17

Today's Advent basket miniature is a very cute little jar of seeds. I'm guessing they're carrot seeds or a black lettuce seed. (I just planted lettuce, spinach, and kale seeds a couple days ago - hoping to have some salad stuff growing in the greenhouse. Should have started them awhile back.)

Read Matthew 13:3-8, 20-23 (these readings are for kids, but the context is all of chapter 13 for a day full of Jesus telling stories). "These are seeds. Jesus tells of deeper meanings."

The context? Hearing that leads to productive living. Hearing with a receptivity, a readiness of heart - then the insights and understandings flow freely. Jesus tells of ears and eyes that are open and awake yet not hearing or seeing, cuz of hardened hearts. "They don't want to have to deal with me face-to-face."

There's people hearing in the parable - even with joy. People who think they can look like giant oaks without putting down deep roots. When they realize how much effort it takes to put down deep roots, they too often settle for being bramble bushes.

Matthew's kingdom coming involves: separating of the just and the unjust, that it may seem small but will have overwhelming impact, and that the kingdom is valuable; hearing and focusing on the message in such a way that one is defined by it.

Oh God, that I listen and hear, see, and receive and live out, what you desire me to know and do; that we connect heart to heart.