About 2,000 years have passed since GOD
became man in Jesus Christ who did not get tired to proclaim the
Good News day after day. Nothing could stop His disciples from
continuing to spread the teaching of their Master. They were quite
successful; Christianity spread relatively fast throughout the
ancient world.
But today, barely one third of the world’s population knows Christ
and follows His teachings. We hear about Christian countries in
Europe where churches and seminaries are nearly empty and have to
be sold. We know about “Christian” countries where criminality,
graft and corruption flourish – in other words, where Christian
values are not practiced.
Jesus foresaw this already when He told the parable about the sower
and the seed (Mark 4:1-20). The farmer sows according to the custom
of the country; the seed is good – but much of the seed was wasted.
We could expect that in the end, the farmer is disappointed because
of the poor harvest. But to our surprise, the harvest is still
plenty.
The apparent “poor harvest” after nearly 2,000 years should not
discourage us. The seed, the Word of GOD, is good. In spite of so
many obstacles, nothing can hinder a great harvest in the
end.
We don’t know how long the world will still last, but GOD knows.
When He assures us of an overwhelming harvest, we should not feel
anxious but try more than ever to contribute to that great
harvest.
We hear the Word of GOD at least every Sunday during Mass; many
read regularly the Bible and so also “hear” GOD’s Word. How long
does it remain in our memory? Isn’t it that once we leave the
Church, we tend to forget what we heard in the Gospel? There we
have it: “Satan has come and carried away the Word.”
Realizing these dangers to the seed of the Word of GOD, we can
become more careful and try more than ever to listen well, accept
and do what GOD tells us – as Mary did, who taught us already this
important lesson. – Fr. Rudy Horst,
SVD
REFLECTION
QUESTION: Which of
the obstacles Jesus enumerates in His parable do I discover in my
life? Where can I begin to remove these obstacles so that GOD’s
Word brings more fruit in my life?
Lord, Divine Sower, You continuously sow Your Word into my heart.
At times it brings fruit, often it does not because of the reasons
You point out in the parable. I ask You to send the Holy Spirit to
give me the strength to resist even more all those daily obstacles
to a good harvest. Amen.
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