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He continued according to plan, traveled to town after town, village after village, preaching God's kingdom, spreading the Message. The Twelve were with him.
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There were also some women in their company who had been healed of various evil afflictions and illnesses: Mary, the one called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out;
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Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod's manager; and Susanna - along with many others who used their considerable means to provide for the company.
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As they went from town to town, a lot of people joined in and traveled along. He addressed them, using this story:
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"A farmer went out to sow his seed. Some of it fell on the road; it was tramped down and the birds ate it.
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Other seed fell in the gravel; it sprouted, but withered because it didn't have good roots.
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Other seed fell in the weeds; the weeds grew with it and strangled it.
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Other seed fell in rich earth and produced a bumper crop. "Are you listening to this? Really listening?"
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His disciples asked, "Why did you tell this story?"
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He said, "You've been given insight into God's kingdom - you know how it works. There are others who need stories. But even with stories some of them aren't going to get it: Their eyes are open but don't see a thing, Their ears are open but don't hear a thing.
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"This story is about some of those people. The seed is the Word of God.