The Parables in this Sunday’s Gospel teach us to use our understanding of farmers and their crops to help us better understand growth in our spiritual lives.  Growth depends on God.  It is usually gradual and sometimes even imperceptible to us.

Since God is so concerned about our life, He will promote within us genuine and  abundant fruit.  God desires our spiritual growth, and will always be expected to sustain that growth.

Once the seed is sown, God cares for its growth.  Through the work of the Spirit, growth comes from within us.  Like the farmer, we can nurture this growth by removing the thorns and thistles.    In our lives.  We can make decisions to avoid the things that hamper God’s work in us – certain books and television programs, anger, resentment, concern only for ourselves and our interests, indifference to the poor and suffering.  We can nourish the seed of faith through reading God’s word, prayer and receiving Holy Eucharist.  Gradually, with sufficient time, we will see this seed spring to life.

If we allow God to work in us, we will grow – even though we may not be aware of it at the time.  The seeds in these parables are meant to show that great things come from small beginnings.

This is what God promises each of us.

The Kingdom of God is growing.  We human beings contribute to this as the sower does when he sows seed.  Yet he has neither made the seed himself, nor does he produce the growth.

God takes care of that growth through nature.

So it is with the Kingdom of God.  Parents can sow the seed of faith in their children’s  hearts, but they cannot “manufacture” their children’s faith.  God remains the one who gives grace and faith.  He sends growth as His gift to let the fruit of His action ripen.  In our time, we can wonder why so many are not bearing healthy fruit.  God is with us.  We need to pray to Him for His  grace and our openness to that grace.  God will continue to bring great trees of faith from tiny mustard seeds.  Through His guidance the Kingdom of God will continue to grow.

God Bless

Msgr. Powell

---

REMEMBER TO KEEP HOLY THE LORD’S DAY.

 

---

Daily Mass from EWTN

 

---