This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.
We may find some of Jesus’ teachings a bit difficult to understand. When this is the case, we may accept that, as He is God, there will always be some element of transcendence and mystery to His message that we will not grasp. For example, “Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” (Mt. 24:28) Or, when He calls Peter “Satan” in Mt. 16. It seems harsh to our ears, but we trust Him as the Master that He holds all truth, and that He applies to each the teaching style most beneficial for each.
The Parable of the Sower in today’s Gospel seems to fall on the other side of the spectrum from those more mysterious utterances. Jesus actually explains this parable, in very direct language! We easily identify with one, two, or even all of the personas that Jesus describes.
Even so, perhaps we too easily place ourselves in the “fertile ground” category. After all, we take time to pray daily. We attend Mass. We give ourselves to others in our vocation.
Also, the fact that we’re even making an effort even somewhat consistently is evidence that the devil hasn’t thoroughly made off with us, like the seed that fell on the path, right? And we haven’t fallen completely away like the seed on rocky ground…?
Sure, we get caught up in the thorns–worries, worldly ambitions–from time to time, but hey, nobody’s perfect.
But if we’re honest, perhaps we spend a LOT of time in the land of thorns. Maybe the majority of our time.
What catches the eye in the statement about the thorny ground is a tragic assertion: “They fail to produce mature fruit.” It’s not that you’re kicked out of the garden. You’re not dying rootless in the sun or languishing in some robin’s digestive system. You’re there. You’re a plant. You’ve made it.
You’re just not bearing mature fruit. And if we wanted to be really cruel, we would say that mature–ripe–fruit is the only kind that is any good for anything.
The point isn’t to get discouraged. On the contrary, if we are as happy with Christ as we are now, and there is such a great difference between the preoccupied life we live and the life of those who bear mature fruit–the saints–then there is a great opportunity, a golden threshold that we have yet to cross. What if, as happy as we are as Christians, even with all our knowledge of Jesus’ teachings, we have barely scratched the surface? This is the case, if we live much of our days worried and preoccupied. There is a whole endlessly profound world yet to discover, which is the Heart of Christ, with all its unfathomable love and serene, eternal perspective on reality.
Then, the magic question: How do we get from here to there? The not-so-magic answer: Perseverance in prayer. The path to sainthood is often gradual because God does not want to overexert our fallen nature. But He is passionate about working on us. All we need to do is give ourselves to Him daily, spending real time in prayer, placing all our cares in His hands; receive His powerful grace in the sacraments; and strive to follow our conscience and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. And trust that, as we hand over the reins to Him each day, He is taking them and shaping us as sure as the sun tans a body on the beach.
Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Consider the top three things that currently have you anxious. Explain to the Lord why you think they’re important and why they cause you anxiety. Then, ask Him to infuse into you His perspective, the eternal perspective, on those things, and to help you truly to attribute to everything on this earth only its true importance.
Follow the Author on Twitter:Follow @mvhaywilliams