We want to be good soil. We want the Word to grow in us and bear much fruit. The reality is that sometimes we are the ground along the path, sometimes the rocky ground, and even sometimes we are surrounded by thorns. How do we become and remain good soil?
We can’t do it on our own. We need to rely on Jesus’ help and teaching because, let’s face it, the thorns are everywhere, the soil is often rocky, and we are sinful humans.
The good news is that Jesus knows this. After all, He created each one of us intentionally just as we are. He knows our judgmental tendencies (unfortunately gossip is satisfying), our desires for worldly things (it’s nice to have nice stuff), for approval, and our lack of will power as we slip back into sin. Through it all we continue to turn back toward Him and He continues to love us. How amazing!
Every time we turn away and then turn back, we find Him there still loving us. We can cultivate good soil by relying on Him and taking advantage of the graces our Catholic faith offers through Confession and the Eucharist. Think about it – we can go to Mass every single day and receive our Lord. We can get a daily dose of whatever virtue we are lacking and when we mess up, go to Him and get cleaned up.
It is hubris to think we need to do it by ourselves. God did not make us like that. He created us to rely on Him and every time we go to Jesus for assistance, He is there. And I have to believe it delights Him. He wants us to grow in faith, hope, and love, thus fertilizing our soil and helping His word to bear fruit.
Queremos ser tierra fértil. Queremos que la Palabra crezca en nosotros y dé mucho fruto. La realidad es que a veces somos tierra firme, a veces tierra pedregosa, e incluso a veces estamos rodeados de espinas. ¿Cómo llegamos a ser y seguir siendo tierra fértil?
No podemos hacerlo solos. Tenemos que confiar en la ayuda y las enseñanzas de Jesús porque, seamos sinceros, las espinas están por todos lados, la tierra suele ser pedregosa y somos seres humanos pecadores.
La buena noticia es que Jesús lo sabe. Después de todo, nos creó a cada uno intencionalmente, tal como somos. Él conoce nuestras tendencias a juzgar (por desgracia, el chisme es gratificante), nuestros deseos de cosas mundanas (es agradable tener cosas bonitas), nuestra necesidad de aprobación, y nuestra falta de fuerza de voluntad al caer en el pecado. A pesar de todo, seguimos volviendo a Él y nos sigue amando. ¡Qué maravilloso!
Cada vez que nos alejamos y luego nos volvemos a Él, lo encontramos allí, todavía amándonos. Podemos cultivar tierra fértil confiando en Él y aprovechando las gracias que nuestra fe católica nos ofrece a través de los sacramentos de la Confesión y la Eucaristía. Piénsenlo: podemos ir a misa todos los días y recibir a nuestro Señor. Podemos recibir diariamente la virtud que nos falte y, cuando nos equivoquemos, acudir a Él para que nos sane.
Es arrogante pensar que debemos hacerlo solos. Dios no nos creó así. Nos creó para confiar en Él, y cada vez que acudimos a Jesús en busca de ayuda, Él está ahí. Y tengo que creer que le deleita. Quiere que crezcamos en la fe, la esperanza y el amor, fertilizando así nuestra tierra y ayudando a que su palabra dé fruto.
Merridith Frediani loves words and is delighted by good sentences. She also loves Lake Michigan, dahlias, the first sip of hot coffee in the morning, millennials, and playing Sheepshead with her husband and three kids. She writes for Catholic Mom, Diocesan.com, and her local Catholic Herald. Her first book Draw Close to Jesus: A Woman’s Guide to Adoration is available at Our Sunday Visitor and Amazon. You can learn more at merridithfrediani.com.
Feature Image Credit: M_wie_Moehre, pixabay.com/photos/plant-nature-growth-botany-leaves-8338691/
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