Bearing Fruits for the Lord

07-16-2023Weekly ReflectionFr. James Aboyi, V.C.

Four key images: Rain, soil, seed, and fruit, are used in the First Reading and the Gospel this weekend to explain the impact the Word of God has on our lives. In the First Reading, God speaks through His prophet Isaiah, saying the Word that goes out from his mouth shall not return to him empty. The parable of the sower that Jesus gives in the Gospel today is about the only parable where He explains its meaning to His disciples. The parable compares the teaching of God’s Word to the sowing of seeds. The seeds fall on different types of soil: the pathway soil, the rocky soil, the thorny soil, and the good soil. Jesus’ explanation of the parable shows that both the seeds and the soil represent the different disposition of our hearts to receiving the Word of God and what we do with it. However, the key difference here is that while the seed and soil cannot help being what they are, we can.

The question we need to ask ourselves then is, “What is the disposition of my heart to receive the Word of God and allow it to bear fruits in my life?” Jesus gave examples of external forces such as the evil one, lure of riches, anxiety, tribulation, and persecution as things that make it hard for the Word of God to bear fruits in the lives of some people. For the Word of God to bear fruits in our lives requires us to undergo a spiritual transformation, just as a seed must undergo decay before it can grow and bear fruit.

The Scripture Readings today invite us to pay attention to the things that distract and prevent us from allowing the Word of God to take root in our lives. This is also an invitation to pay attention to the things that distract us during prayer and Mass. Two weekends ago, Jesus reminded us that we must put God first before any other priorities in our lives (Matthew 10:37-39). Anything that does not allow us to place God as our number one priority in life is a distraction and such distractions can gradually replace God in our lives. In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroy, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” Let us pray for God to give us the grace and show us the way to handle the things that distract us from having a strong personal relationship with Him and allow His Word to bear fruit in our lives.

Remain Blessed,

Fr. James