The parable of the sower in Mark’s gospel is unusual in that it has an explanation attached to it. The explanation of the parable focuses on the obstacles to receiving the word of God with the implication that we must eliminate those obstancles. However, if we look at the parable without the explanation there seems to be a different emphasis. In the course of his instruction he said to them, “Hear this! A sower went out to sow.” The parable as delivered focuses on the sowing, not on the reception of the seed. Taking the parable as it is suggests that as apostles, as missionary disciples, we should simply share the Word we’ve received and not obsess about results — the fruitfulness is in God’s hands.
