The Sower and the Seed

“The seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit”

The Lord provides, gives us all the tools, all the things for us to go forth and bear fruit. It is up to us to do our part because He just can’t place everything in our laps; He’s already doing more than enough

One of the fundamental things that we need to provide is being a good listener; one who listens not just with his ears but also the heart. The seed that God plants is His word and if we let it fall in rich soil, our heart, it is then that the seed has an opportunity to bear much fruit which ultimately puts us on the path to eternal life.

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”  ~John 6:68

In a short reflection, I read this morning, St. Padre Pio talks about bearing fruit, free from worldly anxiety.

Advance with simplicity on the pathways of God, and do not worry. Hate your defects, yes, but quietly, without excitement, nor anxiety. We must be patient with them and benefit from them by means of a holy humility. For if you lack patience, your imperfections, instead of disappearing, will only grow; because there is nothing that strengthens our defects so much as anxiety and an obsession to get rid of them.

Cultivate your vineyard together with Jesus. To you the task of removing stones and pulling up brambles. To Jesus, that of sowing, planting, cultivating and watering. But even in your work, it is still he who acts. Because, without Christ, you could do nothing at all.

This made me think of the imperfections I see in some of the things I grow. The best tomato I’ve tasted is what stores have dubbed as the "ugly" tomato (I love it) – it is an heirloom and it costs at least twice as much at the various stores. This tomato has all kinds of what appear to be wrinkles, is not perfectly red in color and is not perfectly round. It is so unlike the perfect ones that are sold in droves. The perfect ones cannot come close in taste to the 'ugly' ones. Many of us are so obsessed with looking good externally that we don't see nor appreciate the beauty of the God that resides in us. As St. Pio says, we have an anxiety and obsession to get rid of the imperfections. What a shame - that is where our beauty lies.

Do we do the same to the word that we don’t like to hear?

My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings.

Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart.

For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh.

Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.

~ Proverbs 4:20-23