The Seeds Within our Hearts

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 8:55 am Post subject: The Seeds Within our Hearts

The Seeds Within our Hearts

Scripture:

For there is no other God but you, who has care of all, that you should show that you do not give judgment unjustly.

For your power is the beginning of justice: and because you are Lord of all, you make yourself gracious to all. For you show your power, when men will not believe you to be absolute in power, and you convince the boldness of them that know you not. But you being master of power, judges with tranquility; and with great favor dispose of us: for your power is at hand when you will. But you have taught your people by such works, that they must be just and humane, and have made your children to be of a good hope: because in judging you give place for repentance for sins.
(Wisdom 12:13, 16-19)

Likewise, the Spirit also helps our infirmity. For, we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit himself asks for us with unspeakable groaning, and he that searches the hearts knows what the Spirit desires: because he asks for the saints according to God.
(Romans 8:26-27)

Another parable he proposed to them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seed in his field. But while men were asleep, his enemy came and over sowed cockle among the wheat and went his way. And when the blade was sprung up, and had brought forth fruit, then appeared also the cockle. And the servants of the good man of the house coming said to him. Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Whence then has it cockle? And he said to them: An enemy has done this. And the servants said to him: Will you that we go and gather it up? And he said: No, lest perhaps gathering up the cockle, you root up the wheat also together with it. Suffer both to grow until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers: Gather up first the cockle, and bind it into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather into my barn.

Another parable he proposed unto them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field. Which is the least indeed of all seeds; but when it is grown up, it is greater than all herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come, and dwell in the branches thereof.

Another parable he spoke to them: The kingdom of heaven is like to leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until the whole was leavened. All these things Jesus spoke in parables to the multitudes: and without parables he did not speak to them. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.

Then having sent away the multitudes, he came into the house, and his disciples came to him, saying: Expound to us the parable of the cockle of the field. Who made answer and said to them: He that sows the good seed is the Son of man. And the field is the world. And the good seed are the children of the kingdom. And the cockle are the children of the wicked one. And the enemy that sowed them, is the devil. But the harvest is the end of the world. And the reapers are the angels. Even as cockle therefore is gathered up, and burnt with fire: so shall it be at the end of the world. The Son of man shall send his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all scandals, and them that work iniquity, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the just shine as the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. He that has ears to hear, let him hear.
(Matthew 13:24-43)

Reflection:

The One who is perfect is not corrupted by power, but does what is right and just. He is the One who leads with grace, love, and mercy. The One who created us in His image, encourages us to join in His perfection, but sadly, our desires betray us. Though we are encouraged by our Creator to always do what is right and just, with compassion and with the blessings of love, we allow ourselves to harm others through our selfishness. In so doing, we victimize those who surround us through the ripples of our iniquities.

It is evil which entices us. It is evil which causes us to justify away the harm which we do to others. It is evil which causes us to justify the harm we do to ourselves. It is evil which causes us to turn a blind eye to what we do. It is evil which offers empty promises. It is evil which damages the soul. It is evil which blinds us to the blessings of all which is good.

The desire of God is that we may be holy as He is holy, that we may be just as He is just, that we may offer mercy as He offers mercy, that we forgive as He forgives, that we may love one another as He loves all the children of His creation. In our weakness, we too often fail Him, but if we ask for His help, He will heed our cry.

What comes from us, then, depends upon whether we open ourselves to Him or the world. If we invite into our hearts the Holy Spirit, we shall gain the strength which comes only from Him, but if what we allow into our hearts are the ways of the world, we shall suffer the evils which it yields. Let us, then, ask in prayer, that He will help us to be like the holy ones, that we may receive the wisdom and strength to turn away from all the emptiness and miseries of sin, that we may instead turn to the blessings of all which comes by keeping His commandments.

We might wonder, how is it that God allows so much evil in the world? Did He not once wipe all the world of the corrupt? (Genesis 6:11-13) Did He not destroy the cities of evil? (Genesis 19:29) How is it, then, that He does not now slap down His hand of justice? Perhaps it is for the same reason He delayed His destruction of the cities of the plain. (Genesis 18:16-32, 19:1-29)

If we were to ask God why He allows so much evil to roam within our midst, He might respond with His own question as to the evil we allow by our choice. Did He not give us freewill? Do we not have the choice to render good fruits? The question before us, then, is why do we make the choices we do? Why do so many allow the cockle seeds to grow within us and choke the fields of our hearts?

Blessed are those who tend to the soil of their soul, for as they allow seeds of faith to grow within and they pluck out the weeds of evil, they become the fertile ground which yields the good fruits; the fruits of civility, compassion, charity, and love. It is through His love and mercy that He waits, for even the fields full of cockle may be plowed under so that the seeds of good fruit may be allowed to grow. If we desire His mercy, then, we must tend to the ground of our soul. Let us work, then, to guard against the bad seed and cultivate only that which is good.

Questions for further reflection:

What is the ground of our hope?

In what ways do we offer up to Him our humble thanks for His great glory, grace, and mercy?

What seeds do we allow to grow within the fields of our soul?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier