Nourish the Seed

   “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.” (Matt 13: 23)

   We are very much like farmers.  Our soul is the soil and we must tend it carefully if we want to produce a good crop.  A soul cluttered with earthly desires can’t properly nourish the word of God planted within us.

   When we become overly enamored with worldly pleasures we allow weeds to grow in our soul, lessening the crop of good that God’s word can produce.  If money, fame, or recognition is at the top of our priority list we create pagan gods within us.  We begin to worship those things that are of this world rather than those of the next.  The seed is overcome by the pleasures and desires of this world.  Good fruit cannot be produced.

   Just hearing the Word but never acting on it is very similar.  If our spiritual life consists of going to church once a week and forgetting God the rest of the week our faith has no roots, it will not last.  When a conflict arises we may choose the worldly over God.  In our neglect little or no fruit is produced.

   As a farmer must tend his crop so we must nourish the seed sown within us.  It must become the most important thing in our life; the one thing that over-rides all others.  We must read scripture and study our faith to learn all we can learn; an unknowing farmer can’t produce a good crop.  We must take the time to tend to it each day in prayer and thanksgiving for all the blessings God has given us.

   By tending the crop, nourishing it, caring for it and making the word of God our top priority we too can yield a hundred or sixty or thirty-fold.  When the crop is harvested at our death we can then rest in the comfort of God.

Father help us to cherish Your word.

Let us nourish and tend the seed planted in our soul.

May we produce abundant fruit in our life.

May we rest in the joy and comfort of heaven at life’s end.

Amen