What kind of soil are you today? Through Georg Pencz’s engraving and Jesus’ parable of the sower, this episode invites you into quiet reflection and deep listening. Let the lines of scripture and art open you to the surprising ways God is at work within you.

Matthew 13:18-23

In this contemplative episode of Art and Prayer, Rev. Rob McPherson invites us into a meditative exploration of Jesus’ Parable of the Sower, paired with a striking 16th-century engraving by Georg Pencz. A student of Albrecht Dürer, Pencz mastered the craft of engraving—an art form etched in fine lines and pressed in ink, where shading is built not with color but with patient marks and textures. As we sit with his visual interpretation of Matthew 13:18–23, we’re drawn into a deeper understanding of the word of God as seed, scattered across varying conditions of the human heart.

This guided prayer experience gently leads viewers to observe each part of the parable in the image: seeds devoured by birds, choked by thorns, starved on rocky ground, and thriving in rich soil. Through repeated readings of the scripture and space for silence, Rob creates an opening for viewers to listen for their own spiritual insight. What in your life is flourishing—and what is struggling to take root? What detail in the engraving catches your eye and stirs something in your soul?

The absence of color in the engraving, Rob reflects, initially seemed like a limitation—but in prayerful contemplation, the monochrome lines come alive, dancing with meaning. This mirrors the spiritual journey itself: the simple act of stillness and reflection can become a surprising dance with the divine. With warmth and insight, this episode invites you to move beyond surface distractions and discover the God who is always sowing seeds of truth, healing, and transformation.

ARTWORK

The Parable of the Sower

by Georg Pencz

From the Metropolitan Museum of Art

MUSIC

Lost in Prayer by Doug Maxwell

Ambient Piano and Strings by Good_B_Music—Pixabay License

Soundscape for Meditation by Siarhei_Korbut—Pixabay License

Piano Calm Music by RelaxingTime

VIDEO

Etching and Color Intaglio: A Close-Up of the Medium

by Johanson, George, 1928-; Kennedy, Manson

Publication date 1973

From the Internet Archive