In the Gospel, Jesus shares with us the parable of the sower. He talks about the different soils that receive the Word of God. Jesus suggests that we are the soil. Are we the soil that is the path where the word is not received, not believed? Are we the soil that is the rocky ground? We hear the word, but some tribulation comes along, and we are immediately thrown into bitterness. Are we the soil with thorns where we become focused on the riches of the world that chokes us? But then there is the rich soil where the seed produces thirty, sixty or a hundredfold. Do you know that a normal crop in that time would produce tenfold? Wow, I would like to get the thirty, sixty or a hundredfold. I would like to know how I can become the rich soil.
All those different soils, how do we become the rich soil. It is about listening to the word of God, believing that there is a greater meaning that underlies the face value of the word like this parable. It is about believing. What do we do with the tribulations that are bound to happen. Realize that the world is always in tribulation, but there is an overarching pattern of living, dying and rising. That if we believe we will see that God always overcomes in our life. What do we do with the destructive patterns of the world that choke us, the riches of the world that lure us away to only lead us to loneliness and emptiness. It’s about the real desire that we seek. Are we the rich soil that takes in the word of God. We believe that life is deeper, we walk with God through tribulation, and we cling to God that frees us from the lures of this world that produces solitude and unity. We learn to thrive beyond all these things.
What is the word? It is that the kingdom of God is at hand. That heaven is at reach now, not some distant future. The kingdom of heaven is at hand now. I know that some of you are the hard path that will not accept this truth, or that you don’t trust the pattern, or that you are consumed with the riches of the world which only bring anxiety. Open your hearts, trust God walks with you, cling to God and let go of all else. You will see thirty, sixty, a hundredfold. Your life will become meaningful, deep, and real. You will become the cure of this world and not the disease. You will become on fire with the Holy Spirit, and you will be inspired. True you will have tribulation, persecution, but you will have a relationship with God that no one can break. You will rise to greater confidence, and you will fear no one.
These are the last few weeks that I have with you, and I want to review the important things that I have taught about that can really change your life. Today I want to stress one thing that can truly change you. You have heard me talk about spiritual direction. Get a freaking spiritual director. A list is on the website. This will help you to break open the word in your life, this will help you to break open your life and to experience the kingdom now. This is the fuel for the fire that you so desperately need in your life. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. You will become the rich soil.
God bless,
Fr. Chris