Isaiah 55:1-5,10-13
Romans 8:9-17
Matthew 13:1-9,18-23
Psalm 65 or 65:9-14
The palace is enormous in its size and appearance. As you approach it by boat and get closer to the island you realize that this imposing structure is grand in every way! It took many years to build with the stones having to be brought over to the island stone by stone. This doesn't even take into account the years of planning and preparing for the building's shape, form and design.
Beautiful gardens make up the lawns and grounds of the palace. The gardens are filled with flowers such as azaleas, camellias, forsythias, iris, wisteria, water lilies, hibiscus and many, many more. A lot of seeds had to be planted to make this dream become a reality.
In today's Gospel, Mathew tells us about seed planting and Jesus' parable around it. It strikes me that a lot of people have planted a lot of seeds for us - our parents, our teachers, our close relatives and friends. We too have planted many seeds for others knowingly and unknowingly. Think of the people who have influenced your life the most and the experiences that have shaped your life's journey.
The more important question, I believe, is what have we (you) done with those seeds? Did they fall on poor ground and wither away? Did they fall on strong ground, flourish and then quickly die because there was no depth to infuse them?
On the other hand, did they take root in a well planned and well prepared foundation and grow in an exceptional manner?
Charles Borromeo was born into a life of luxury and privilege. His was an aristocratic family and one of enormous wealth. Charles Borromeo was part of the Borromeo Family whose fortunes built the beautiful palace on Isola Bella, the Beautiful Island in Lake Maggiore in Northern Italy.
He allowed the many seeds planted in him to become a true believer and follow of Jesus Christ. Charles became a Bishop and Cardinal at the very early age of 21. This isn't really important only to demonstrate that in spite of his ecclesiastical positions in the Church, he devoted himself to the poor and downtrodden of Milan, Italy.
He saw the need for them to read and write. He saw to it that schools were built and he was the champion of the neglected in one of the bigger cities in Italy. He took those seeds and used them to follow the Gospel.
His interior life had a solid foundation - it was built on strong values of compassion, love and acceptance.
Just as the Palace on Isola Bella survived from the 16th century and is still standing today so too is Charles Borrmeo's legacy. It is a legacy of showing how to live out the Gospel in one's daily life - how to see Christ even in the most despised and rejected.
What have we planted - whom have you touched by the example of your lives in Paynesville and Sauk Centre? What is the legacy we will leave our children, community and our church? What have we done to ensure an Episcopal presence in our towns for the next 100 years?
Isn't this what Jesus is telling us in this parable? We don't have to be a priest or bishop to build and strengthen our own interior spiritual life through prayer and self-examination. These practices will help us to receive the seeds on good ground because "s/he who received seed on the good ground is s/he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundred fold, some 60, some 30."
Just as Charles gave up the luxuries and privileges of a super rich lifestyle to embrace the Gospel, so too do we promise in our baptismal covenant to seek and serve Christ in all persons. We may not be wealthy or "super rich" but the call to share in Christ's eternal priesthood is just as necessary for us as for any Christian.
Charles Borrmeo's legacy of humility and service to the poor is strongly rooted in Italian culture and history. It has survived since his death in 1548. Look around you - at the stained glass windows, the names on the pews and the names on our sacred vessels- your parish survives today because of the legacy left behind by those who worked to build it.
What will your legacy be for St. Stephen's/ Good Samaritan Church?
He who has ears to hear, let him hear! Are your ears, hearts and minds open to the word of Christ and his Kingdom?
How much do you think you're willing to do to sow good seed in your life's many fields? Will it be filled with weeds or the most beautiful flowers ever seen? I hope it is the latter for each of us.
AMEN.