The Conditions of the Hearts and their Spiritual Results
ISAIAH 55:10-11/PSALMS 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14/ROMANS 8:18-23/ MATTHEW 13:1-23
The first reading and the gospel reading of today present us with the themes of seed and sower. In the first reading Isaiah says that both rain and snow water the earth and cause the seeds to grow and provide us with food. Similarly, the gospel noted that like seeds the word of God is spread across the world, it grows, and provides us with spiritual nourishment. However, this parable does not say much about the quality of the seed but more of the soil. Therefore, it can be regarded as the parable of the soil or the Parable of the Four Soils. When it comes to farming as the parable of the sower presents to us, there are factors that determine proper growth. The condition of the soil can affect the growth of the seeds. In the same way, the condition of our hearts can affect the growth of God’s Word in our spirit. So we shall be looking at the four kinds of hearts and their spiritual results.
Unresponsive heart: This kind of heart can also be regarded as the indifferent or uncaring heart. The seed that fell on the path refers to the word of God on an uncaring or indifferent heart. The heart is indifferent or unresponsive because of bias and hatred for the speaker, or because it does not like to be reminded of certain things. There are people like this, no matter what you say in as much as these factors are there they will never understand you and they will not respond. It is a common belief that you will never comprehend mathematics if you despise your math teacher.
Impulsive heart: This kind of heart can also be termed as the rash or reckless heart. The seed that fell on the rocky soil can be said to have fallen on the reckless soil. The seed did not take any root in the soil. This refers to the heart that has no inner conviction. The seed is given to them but deep within them they see no reason for it and so it withers. Christians are to live by an inner conviction of the word of God. If you are not convinced about it there is no way it can produce result for you.
Preoccupied heart: This refers to the seed that fell among thorns. Thorns are the cares of the world and the lure for wealth. These things preoccupy the heart of man and so the word of God has no space for growth. Today, the hearts of many youths are preoccupied with the desire for riches and that is why they fall into temptation and as 1Tim6, 9-10 says they are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that lead them to destruction. Many people are backward in the things of the Kingdom today simply because of the preoccupation of their hearts.
Good heart: This refers to the seed that fell on good soil. A soil is good because of ploughing, weeding, watering and manuring. The good heart receives the word of God, weeds it, waters it, manures it for proper effective growth. The heart is made good by regular weeding of sins and negative habits, regular watering and nurturing of God’s word, regular meditation and reception of the sacraments.
Beloved in Christ, where do you belong? how do you receive the word of God? Our modern world is full of distractions; the rocks, thorns and birds that work against the growth of God’s word in our hearts. Our call is to become like the good soil. The gospel says the good soil produces a harvest of 30, 60 and 100. Beloved in Christ, we have not been redeemed to reduce we have been redeemed to produce greater harvest for God’s kingdom.
Many Christians today give in to the cares of riches and wealth and so abandon their spiritual growth. Others because they don’t want to suffer they abandon the principles of right living and give in to lust and immoralities for gain. The second reading says sufferings and hardships are part and parcel of the human condition that have an eternal reward which far outweighs this present gain. True Christians, therefore, should have positive mindset towards God’s word so that they can sustain their spiritual growth. The worries of life will always be there, rather than them destroying our Christian vocation we should use them as ladders to heaven.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
