Albert Einstein is reported to have said, "Sometimes, the thinking that has got us so far is inadequate to handle the problems of the place our thinking has got us to!" That might be why Jesus spoke in parables.

There’s something very appealing about Jesus portraying himself as the mad farmer. He tosses precious seed where a sober sower would never intend it to go. Only a reckless farmer sows the footpath, the brambles, the rocks, and among the weeds—NONE of which makes any sense!

At about that same time Jesus left the house and sat on the beach. In no time at all a crowd gathered along the shoreline, forcing him to get into a boat. Using the boat as a pulpit, he addressed his congregation, telling stories.

My family and I were driving home to Chicago from a summer trip to southern Indiana when we were lured by signs of fresh cold ice cream to stop by Fair Oaks Dairy Farm. The ice cream was well worth the stop and as we licked our delicious dairy treats atop crisp sugar cones, we meandered around the farm.

My sisters and brothers, we pray to be the good soil that hears God's word and lets it bear fruit in our lives.

Store up in your minds the Lord's words which you receive through your ears, for the Word of the Lord is the nourishment of the mind. . . . Be careful, then, that the word you have received through your ears remains in your heart.