Is your soul ready to receive the word of God?

The Prophet Isaiah tells us that God’s word never returns to him void. God says, "Let there be light." And there is light. He says, "Let the water under the sky be gathered into a single basin, so that the dry land may appear." And so it happens.

God’s word is dynamic and creative, always accomplishing the task it sets out to achieve. His word is like rain that falls down from the heavens, preparing the soil for life.

The Parable of the Sower compares the word of God to seeds sown by an extravagant farmer, who indiscriminately scatters his seeds throughout the entirety of his property. We don’t know if the ground was fallow. However, we do know that it was a custom of the time to plow the land after sowing so that the seed would be buried in the soil, thus having a greater chance to produce an abundant harvest.

Truthfully, it makes little difference whether the field was plowed before sowing. The important aspect of this parable is the condition of the soil and the consequent effect of the soil on the seed.

Not everyone who heard Jesus preach or witnessed his miracles was able to accept or even understand his teachings. In fact, we know that some left because what he said was too difficult for them to believe.

Some were moved by what Jesus said and did, but quickly became distracted by fear and anxiety from worry over what the world would think of their discipleship. They lost their focus and took their hand off the plow. Still others struggled with the words Jesus spoke and instead of rejecting his teaching they ruminated on it and allowed it to sink deeper into the soil of their heart, producing spiritual fruit.

What does the soil of your soul look like? Is it ready to receive the grace God has to offer it? Or do preparations need to be made? Consider going to confession this week and asking him to remove the stones and thorns of your sin, enabling his love to take deeper root in your heart.

Father Walter Nolte is pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Fremont. Contact him at wlnolte.archomaha.org.