Word of God Takes Time to Grow

Let’s just today listen to this story or parable that Jesus told to the people and imagine that he is telling it to you personally. As one writer said “A parable is a story that makes you do your own thinking.”

I need to ask myself the question “What kind of soil do I present to the seeds of the Kingdom?” Some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. The pathway is the harden earth. The seed just bounced off. Apparently in Palestine in the agriculture of the time, the seed is scattered before the ground is ploughed. By the time the farmer comes with the plough the birds have taken the seed. Perhaps the routine of my life has hardened me to receiving the freshness of the word? Have I allowed mediocrity and routine harden me to the Word?

Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up straight away, because there was no depth of earth. As soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. How often have I begun well, made resolutions and then slackened off? I need to be realistic and rely on God’s grace and God’s spirit to lead me and guide me. The rocks in the soil might represent areas of unforgiveness in my life. Perhaps there are areas of my life that need to be healed so that I become more receptive and open to God’s word.

Others fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked them. The suggestion is that these could represent the worries of the world and lure of riches. To what extent is Jesus knocking at my door and I am too preoccupied to open it. Come back later as I am too busy at the moment. I cannot let Jesus in because of having so much else to do. Have I let my concerns about work, my family, my health, my future , my comfort, drown out the living word? If the kingdom of God is not the central pursuit of my life then we are being choked.

Father Denis McBride in his reflection on today’s gospel writes; “But we must be patient with ourselves. Like all seed, the Word of God takes time to grow. The sower knows that he has to wait for the weather, the secret working of the soil, the slow thrust of life, before he can see the crops emerge. The sower cannot deny the time the whole process takes. God who sows the seed knows what it means to plant his Word in different people in different situations. It all takes time. But if we take time to nourish the Word, God will wait on the gradual process. “