The theme from this Sunday’s readings, especially the Gospel from the Parable of the Sower remind us to examine the condition of our soil, or the inner disposition of our soul.
One season, a section of my yard developed a grass fungus. After consulting with experts, I learned that the dead grass had to be removed, the soil aerated, and the ground treated before planting new seed. Simply scattering fresh seed onto unhealthy and diseased soil would only result in dead grass again.
The same analogy applies to our spiritual lives. How are we preparing our souls to receive the seed of God’s Word and the graces given through the Holy Spirit so that the garden of our heart may bear abundant fruit? Do we cast aside our worries and failings and turn to the Lord in prayer? Do we cultivate our hearts through Sacred Scripture, the Sacraments, and the graces we receive by honoring the Sabbath?
Or are we simply going through the motions, where the seed lands in the right place and brings us new life for a time, yet never takes deep root? If our faith is not nourished, even the best seed can struggle to produce a lasting harvest.
The Divine Sower, Jesus Christ, desires to plant within us the rich seeds of His Word, while the Holy Spirit nourishes those seeds throughout our journey of faith. In his Letter to the Romans, Saint Paul reminds us that we possess the firstfruits of Creation, yet we continue to wait with eager hope, like a mother in labor, for our full adoption as God’s children and the resurrection of our bodies at the end of the age.
The spiritual life unfolds in seasons, just as the Church follows a liturgical calendar marked by different seasons. Ordinary Time is anything but ordinary. The green vestments worn during this season remind us to grow in holiness, mature in virtue, and bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.
The Responsorial Psalm beautifully summarizes this call: “The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.”
StreetEvangelist 