Farming Your Soul

Jesus said to them, "Do you not understand this parable?
Then how will you understand any of the parables?
The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once 
and takes away the word sown in them.
And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, 
when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy.
But they have no roots; they last only for a time.
Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, 
they quickly fall away. Those sown among thorns are another sort.
They are the people who hear the word,  but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches,  and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold."

You have to be careful with what you have learned about the Kingdom of God.  The knowledge is wonderful to have but you can lose what you have received.  Jesus points this out in the parable of the sower and the seed. We tend to think of ourselves as the seed that falls and bears fruit but is this a true picture of where we are?  I think it might be possible that at various times we find ourselves in the more dangerous parts of the farm where the seed has been sown.  How can this be? 

We Catholics have heard the truth.  We are fortunate to have the whole truth of salvation, properly interpreted for us. The seed is watered by graces that flow from the hand of God and we bloom and show the world what a joy it is to be a Catholic Christian.  Then, for some reason, in spite of what we know and what we have experienced, we stray from the path that we are on and we find ourselves among weeds or in soil that has no depth and we begin to wither and die.  Or one day we find ourselves in a position of being persecuted, and we just cannot take it and we cave in and begin to follow the world. 

I know that this is a bit of a stretch today and bit on the nebulous side.  What I want to say is that we need to remember our roots, remember where we get our strength and who it is that nurtures us.  We have to be well grounded in our faith.  Many of us stopped learning about God when we were confirmed, some as early in the seventh grade!  I dare say that most of our seventh graders today are better equipped than we ever were to face the world and to spread the seed that is the Gospel.  But just because we are older we cannot forget that we must keep the Good News fresh in our minds and we must never take our faith on faith alone.  We have to participate with the Lord and use the graces He sends us in such a great abundance.  Cheer up, if you go at this as an adult you will soon overtake the seventh graders in your parish! 

Do you know someone in Purgatory?  Don't forsake them and let your love stop on this side of the grave. Pray for the poor souls, especially people you know who have died.  True, they may be in heaven already but what if they are not?  Help them today by praying for them by name, they will be forever grateful to you.  If they are already in heaven and do not need your prayers, your prayers will benefit others.  It pleases God when we offer prayers and sacrifices for the Poor Souls.  Do not forget them.  Remember, as they are today someday you might be.