Bible Study: 2
Samuel 7, 4 to 17. And Mark 4, 1 to 20.
When we look around our environment, we cannot but notice how
the Bible seems to come alive, so much so that a little reflection on how
plants grow immediately brings out certain deep truths about life. In today’s
Gospel passage, Jesus not only gives a parable about planting and growing seeds,
he also explains the meaning of the parable.
Now, there is only one farmer and the seed sown is the same type
of seed but there are different harvests. Why? The soils where these seeds were
sown are different. These soils represent the nature of our hearts.
In his explanation, Jesus tells us that some people have rocky
hearts, they are like rocky soils; they receive seed with joy but have no
roots. These are people who are always excited in church, they dance like there
is no tomorrow, they are the first to rush out for altar calls, they give
testimonies at the slightest instances, they are so emotional but their faith
evaporates as fast as their emotions change. They cannot withstand trial. For
them, if God doesn’t answer today today, then he probably won’t answer tomorrow.
Some people have thorny hearts, they are like soils with thorns
in them. They really love God and they want to serve God but it happens that
they also want to be like everybody else. They want what people want, the
delight of riches, fancy clothes, nice car, bumper bank account…, just name it;
beautiful spouse, bouncing children, respect in the community, pleasure at
every instance, the list is endless. They want too much of what the world has
to offer so their love for the world chokes up their love for God. In fact, for
these people, religion itself is reduced to a quest for these material things
rather than a sincere quest to serve God. Unfortunately most Christians and
even ministers today belong to this category. Religion has become a means to
wealth, power and social status. As much as they attend church, they also swim
every day in sin.
Then comes the category of people with a rich heart who are able
to yield fruits with their life. These are people you come across with and you
feel really inspired to serve God diligently. These are people who encourage
you to step out of the crowd and grow in your spiritual life. These are people
who talk the talk and walk the walk whose manner of life even in secret bears
no contradiction with who they say they are. These are people who are truly
repentant!
As we continue our reflections on repentance this week, today’s
readings give us an added dimension of what repentance means. To repent is to
change the type of soil you have. You may have a rocky soil, you repent today
but tomorrow morning, you are back to sin again, the word of God dies too
quickly in you. You may have a thorny heart, you really want to repent but you
feel if you stop this particular sin or sins, you will just die, you want to
repent but you cannot afford to lose your friends, you cannot stand being
called a “spirikoko” or “virgin-mary” and so on, you want to repent but
your eyes are still on the money or pleasure you stand to get by disobeying God’s
commandments.
Jesus is saying: “change the soil and you get the result.” True
repentance is taking out the thorns and breaking away the rocks. Just in front
of my parish house, our gardener planted some very beautiful sun flowers. I am
always inspired looking at these flowers because I know quite well that just
beneath the surface of these plants is a hard concrete floor. The original plan
of the house did not make provision for plants in that spot but for so many
months I noticed how the gardener worked night and day, he imported red sand
and poured it on the concrete, then he applied manure on the sand and kept
watering it every morning till he got results.
I believe this is what Christianity is about. It is consistently
working on yourself, consistently rejecting sin, consistently bringing in the
right soil, consistently applying God’s word as manure for your heart,
consistently applying the water of devotion and prayer, till you become a
saint.
David expressed his desire to build God a house and this pleased
God so much that he showered him with so much blessings. David was not a
perfect man but his heart represents the rich soil, he wanted permanence for
God’s house.
Do you want permanence for your acts of virtue? What structures
can you put in place in your life or what needs to change to sustain your
repentance?
Let us Pray:
Lord Jesus, create in me a pure heart, a heart rich enough to
keep me in your light as your beloved child. Amen.
Saint
Angela Merici, Pray for us.
God bless you. Good morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is
well with you.
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