Mark 4:13-20

 …others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. (Mark 4:18-19)

Bill Buckner tops the list on ESPN’s 25 Biggest Chokes. For those who don’t know or remember, Buckner played first base for the Boston Red Sox in the 1986 World Series. The Sox were up 3 games to 2 and were leading 5-3 going into the bottom of the 10th inning. The Mets managed to tie the game. It was at that point that Mookie Wilson hit a slow roller to first base. Bill Buckner, aware of Wilson’s speed, committed an almost unforgivable error. The ball rolled past his glove, between his legs, and the winning run scored from second base. Choke. The Mets ended up winning the series in game 7. 

Choking in sports occurs when pressure to perform creates a high level of anxiety that distracts us from the task at hand. In his parable of the sower, Jesus points out that the same thing can happen in the life of faith. There are all kinds of pressures and distractions that can choke off a life of meaningful discipleship and prevent us from living the life God intends. What’s causing you to choke? 

Mark 4:13-20 NRSV
 13 And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables?
 14 The sower sows the word.
 15 These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.
 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy.
 17 But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.
 18 And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word,
 19 but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing.
 20 And these are the ones sown on the good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold."