The Seeds (01/29/2025)

Today’s gospel (Mark 4:1-20) brought Jesus’ familiar parable of the Sower and the Seed. I have read this so many times in my multiple decades of life, but this morning, it really hit me. And I had to sit for a while contemplating how receptive I have been to the LORD’s Word and Will in my life.

Our world is not easy. There are so many distractions, so many demands, so many decisions. I know for a fact that I have not always chosen wisely, focused on the LORD who I claim leads me. I have not always embraced openly and lovingly the LORD’s will for me in the moment. I get in the way of my own receptivity. I can be stubborn.

As I sat and pondered the situation, I wondered what I need to do to be that receptive and rich soil that receives the seed and produces fruit a hundredfold. I recognized that I need to focus more on the LORD’s call to me and on discerning His will for me in the moment, in all my moments. But this morning I also realized that it was more than that. I had to be willing to set down “my way” to truly follow Christ who is “the way and the truth and the life.” And then I remembered Paul’s struggle with the LORD and Jesus’ answer to him: “My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

And so, this morning, I found myself praying a heartfelt prayer for humility, to accept my weaknesses and open myself to receive fully the LORD’s loving grace. I prayed that as I pray my usual morning prayer…”Lord, make me an instrument of your peace”… I will actually open myself to the LORD’s will for me, the LORD’s lead, the LORD’s grace. I got it, today, that I am not the catalyst but rather the instrument in the hand of an all-present and all-loving LORD.

As we continue on our journeys of faith, hope and love, let us open ourselves, truly open ourselves, to the LORD’s will for us and for our world. Let us allow the LORD, the Sower, to produce an abundant crop of peace in our world.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.