Soil Preparation

Gospel: Luke 8: 4-15

There is a tendency to read the parable of the sower in fatalistic terms where the status of our souls is predetermined.  We see the soil samples are what they are and God's seed can only have the results it does as a result.  Our attitude is that there is either that there is nothing we can do about the condition of our soil, or that only God can radically alter the status of our soil through some cosmic magic.  We removed all agency and responsibility of our own.  

The only agency of God in the story is sending his seed, his word and grace to us.  If our soil is rocky or thorny and ill prepared to receive the presence of God in our lives, then that is on us.  We have the ability to alter the condition of our soil.  We can break up the rocky soil, we can root out the thorny bushes and create soil amenable to receiving the presence of God in our lives.  The failure of our soil is entirely our own.

We can cultivate a variety of good habits in order to realize the results we desire in our soil.  Ultimately, however, it is love alone that will enable us to break our stony hearts, love that will root out the thorns from our heart.  Love is encountered in prayer and meditation, love has come to us in the person and example of Jesus who calls us to follow him, to imitate him in deeds of loving kindness toward others in our world.