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“The Bad Seed” is one of the scariest horror stories ever written. Its author William March makes us ponder, what if a child could be born bad—even murderous—and no amount of nurturing could change it? March interviewed his own psychiatrist, Dr. Edward Glover, an expert on juvenile delinquency, whose research made him believe human badness could be more nature than nurture. In other words, inherited.
A scarier scenario is suggested in this Sunday’s gospel reading from Matthew. What if it’s not the seed that’s bad, but the environment in which it grows? That suggests a nurturer must take responsibility for any evil outcomes and not blame God for giving them bad seed. In fact, Matthew’s gospel makes a point of saying the seed of humanity God plants is good and that we must make sure its fruit isn’t destroyed by evil’s weeds. Jesus explains his parable of The Sower to his disciples:
“He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil.” (Matthew 13:24-43)
But if we consider ourselves the children of God’s kingdom, our obligation is to grow up. WE are responsible for clearing the world’s fields for more fruitful harvests. By that fruit we will be known, as Jesus says earlier in Matthew’s gospel (Matthew 7:16-20). Later in that gospel Christ’s disciples ask, who’s the greatest in God’s Kingdom?
He calls a child over and says, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.” (Matthew 18:1-5).
But he would add this horrific rebuke to those who fail to nurture God’s good seed:
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
In Matthew’s next chapter the disciples do almost what Jesus warns against by trying to keep children away from Jesus. Their Master aims his rebuke at them:
“Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:13-14)
Good parents recognize the kingdom belongs to the children under their care, and we must be as careful with the power we wield over them as God is with His over us. This Sunday’s first reading from Wisdom says of God:
Though you are master of might, you judge with clemency, and with much lenience you govern us; for power, whenever you will, attends you. And you taught your people, by these deeds, that those who are just must be kind. (Wisdom 12:13, 16-19)
Kindness is fruit that grows from the good seed of Wisdom planted in each of us. As Paul implies this Sunday, God wants us to grow big enough to house His Holy Spirit so we can serve His Sacred Purpose:
The one who searches hearts knows the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will. We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:26-27)
The purpose of God’s good seed is to produce fruit that fuels good work. The only bad seed is one that’s not planted.
–Tom Andel