Praised be Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!
Like any seed, the Word of God
possesses so much potential for life. It has the capacity to germinate so long
as it is accepted by hearts that present no obstacles for its growth. The
parable of the Sower is fulfilled in this very place where we are. The same
Word of God was heard by everybody here present. But it will not produce the
same fruits in all of us because we received the same Word of God in different
ways. Some heard the Word but did not listen simply because they never
considered God’s word as worth listening to. There is an outright rejection by
hearts that chose not to believe in anything God says.
Some were willing to give the
Word of God a try but they immediately give up at the sight of the Cross that
comes with discipleship. They simply do not want to suffer for the sake of
Christ. Some are willing to accept the Word of God but are overcome by love of
material things and worldly anxieties. Only those who are willing to renounce
attachments to worldly things and to embrace the Cross are the ones who will
bear abundantly the fruits that the Word of God promises to bring into their
lives.
The secret to cultivating the
Word of God into our lives is rather simple. First, we have to listen to it, accept
it and believe in it. “Listen carefully, my son, to the master’s instructions,
and attend to them with the ears of your heart…welcome it and put it to
practice,” so said the Rule of St. Benedict (prologue: 1)
Then, we should allow the Word of
God to convert our hearts. We should be willing to let go of worldly
attachments that stifle the desires of the spirit. We should will to be free
from “slavery to corruption” in order to live in the “glorious freedom of the
children of God.” “Renounce yourself in order to follow Christ; discipline your
body; do not pamper yourself, but love fasting.” (Rule of St. Benedict 4:10-11)
Then, of course, we must embrace
the Cross because there is no authentic discipleship without it. Willingness to
endure sufferings for the sake of obedience to the will of God is a necessity
for following Christ. “The labor of obedience will bring you back to him from whom
you had drifted through the sloth of disobedience.” (Rule of St. Benedict,
Prologue:2) It is difficult to obey the commandments of the Lord but this is
the only way to real life. “All who come to Christ will live forever.”
(alleluia verse) “Sufferings of this
present time are nothing as compared with the glory to be revealed for us,” so
said St. Paul in the 2nd reading.
This is the part which the Lord
asks of us. For his own part, the Lord will always water the seed planted in
our hearts with the Holy Spirit whom he gives to us through the sacraments we
should frequently receive. Therefore, let us constantly draw from the well of
the sacraments the water of life which we need to nurture the seed of the Word
of God planted in us. Christ plants the seed, we cultivate it with our
cooperation, and the Holy Spirit provides the growth. Let us strive to bear the
fruits of the Spirit so that we may be able to present to the Lord a rich
harvest!
Jesus, I trust in you. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who
have recourse to thee!
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