It becomes their responsibility to keep the soil healthy. The farmer puts in the seed, but it is God’s natural creation (the rain, the sun and the soil) that provide the growth. Through science, we begin to understand the nature of the soil but must be careful not to throw this nature out of balance. Unhealthy, imbalanced soil cannot grow crops, no matter the rain and the sun. It is important to keep the soil healthy. This reality is the same with the soil of our heart. How healthy do we keep the soil of our heart so that God’s Word can grow?
Jesus explains the parable of the sower to his disciples in Matthew 13:18-24. He tells them that the seed (the Word of God) only produces in good soil. God has planted his Word in our heart. The question is, what is the soil of my heart like? Is it hard not allowing God’s Word to grow, and “the evil one comes and snatches it away”? Or, is it too rocky and the Word has no roots, and so when trouble and persecution come, we immediately fall away from God? Or, is it full of thorns/weeds (the cares of the world and lure of wealth) that chokes the Word out of us? Or, is it good enough to bear fruit and yield?
The pandemic has created many stresses for many people in many different ways. Let’s take time to examine our own heart, checking the quality of our own soil. Are we allowing our love to be snatched away? Are we letting the trials and hardships of the pandemic push God away? Are we letting the cares of the world choke love out of our lives? We are all called to bear fruit, whether that is thirty-fold, sixty-fold or hundred-fold. It is up to us to keep our soil healthy. Jesus brings nourishment and life to our soil. Do we fertilize our soil with Jesus? There is a plaque in my daughter’s house that says, “Jesus is always the answer.” No matter the circumstance, the question, Jesus is the answer. Allow a little more of Jesus in the soil of your heart.
Have a great summer and harvest, the blessings of God.
Deacon Norbert Gaudet, RC Church Raymore
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Disclaimer: opinions expressed are those of the writer.