A GOOD SOIL BEARS A FRUITFUL HARVEST

In the gospel reading of this Friday in the sixteenth week, Jesus explains to his disciples the meaning of the parable of the sower (Matt. 13:18-23). Basically, Jesus is the sower who sows the seeds of the word of God in the field of our hearts. The sower who is Jesus is very dexterous in the art of sowing. The seed which is the Word of God is always active and effective (Heb. 4:12). What however constitutes the unfruitfulness of the seeds sown is the nature of the soil which is our heart.

Here, Jesus identifies the three corresponding factors which prevent a fruitful harvest of the seeds that are sown in our hearts. They are the pecking birds for the seeds that fell along the footpath. The scorching sun for the seeds that fell on the rocky ground and the choking thistles for the seeds that fell among thorns. These also in a way describe our own situation. Most of us belong to each one of the above groups.

The seeds that fell on the edge of the path were pecked by the birds because such a soil (heart) lacked understanding and openness to the Word of God. This openness represents faith and without faith we find it hard to receive the Word. The Word of God does not bear fruits in our lives because of lack of faith. Secondly, the seeds that fell on the patches of rock were scorched by the sun because of lack of trust in the power of the Word. The Word of God does not bear fruits in our hearts because our hearts are hardened like the rock and that makes it impossible for the Word that is sown to thrust its roots into the soil of our hearts. The Word does not take root because it is received superficially without any trust in its power. Once trials, persecutions and difficulties come, the Word withers. Thirdly, the seeds that fell among the thorns were chocked up by the thistles because of the lack of the virtue of love in such hearts. The seeds that are sown in our hearts are chocked up by the thorns because of our unreadiness to go out of ourselves. The cares, lures and the worries of this life represent the thistles.

So, we are to identify where we belong and make the necessary efforts to remove the pecking birds, the scorching sun or the choking thistles (as the case may be) in the soil of our hearts which prevent the seed of the Word of God that is constantly sown in our hearts from yielding a great produce. Constancy in prayer, attentiveness to the Word, constant spiritual nourishment, a deep-rooted faith, detachment from worldly pleasures, contentment and so on are some of the antidotes we need in turning our hearts into a rich soil. It is only when our hearts are prepared like the good soil that we can produce great harvest of hundred, sixty and thirty folds.