DO I HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN “THY KINGDOM COME”?

“Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Hear then the parable of the sower.
The seed sown on the path is the one
who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it,
and the evil one comes and steals away
what was sown in his heart.

The seed sown on rocky ground
is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy.
But he has no root and lasts only for a time.
When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word,
he immediately falls away.

The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word,
but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word
and it bears no fruit.

But the seed sown on rich soil
is the one who hears the word and understands it,
who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.’” Matthew 13:18-23

Here Jesus is giving his disciples an explanation of the Parable of the Sower. Let us, the disciples of today, listen closely to what Jesus is saying.

Jesus focuses on just two of the elements of a planting and harvesting process: the Sower (God) who provides the seeds and the Soil (each and all of us) who provide the rich, well-prepared, receptive field for the seeds to germinate and “do their thing.” Jesus’ explanation of the parable’s meaning points to the establishment of the kingdom of God as a two-sided endeavor where God is providing the seeds, the message, the Word, Jesus, but  – for the seed (the Word) – to establish the Kingdom of God on the earth, we humans have to prepare a rich soil within us and  between us that will work with the seeds to support the maturation process that God so created. A coordinated effort from both sides is needed for a bountiful harvest of food, peace and justice to fill the whole world. What an awesome part we have to play in this!

I think that the question for us today is: How attentive are we to creating within ourselves (and helping each other with their work on this) a disposition that will enable the seeds to sprout and bring forth in us and among us the fullness of the God-life that can geminate and grow?

Did God mean for us to think that our contribution to establishing God’s Kingdom here on earth is a contribution of our prayers for God to make a miracle? Are we hoping and praying that God will “all of a sudden” make that happen? Might it be that the Word of God (Jesus) came to remind us that God did make the miracle: The miracle is in us, in what God is capable of doing in partnership with us or better put: what we are capable of doing in partnership with God. But God will not force this upon us. We have to choose. (And considering where each of us came from and where each of us ultimately is going, . . ?)

in this parable, Jesus seems to be saying that the key components are the Sower, the Seed and the Soil. God provides the seeds, Jesus, the Spirit and  God’s continuously flowing graces, and God has provided within us the capabilities of our making of ourselves, individually and collectively, a people of God that produces God’s crops, feeding the whole world and helping the world to be a kingdom of peace and justice for all.

GOOD SOIL

Do you and I have a part to play in “Our Father, . . . Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”?

Jesus says, “The seed sown on rich soil
is the one who hears the word and understands it,
who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

Is there something that you and I need to do or stop doing so that we may better “hear the Word and understand it”?

Sister Loretta