What is the Word?

Gospel: Mark 4: 1-20

For children of the 70s, Grease is the word.  But in the Christian life we often come to a fork in the road on this question.  Today's parable is about the soil of our souls and how to receive the word of God in our lives.  Unlike actual soil, human beings are dynamic and can shape their soul in order to receive the word of God properly, just as a farmer might cultivate different plots of soil, removing obstructions and adding nutrients to the soil in order for things to grow.

But the larger question is what the word of God is.  Many would say it is the scriptures, though in the context of this story that would only be the Old Testament.  For Christians, the word of God is the Lord Jesus himself.  Preparing ourselves to receive Jesus is the point of the story.  We receive Jesus in hearing the scriptures, to be sure, and no doubt we receive Jesus when we participate in the Eucharist and receiving communion.  

Yet, each day we receive Jesus in encountering other people who are other Christs.  How do we receive them? For many, that depends.  If they are people we like then we receive them well.  If they are people we do not like we treat them poorly.  For the Christian, we must see Christ in all people and receive them accordingly with love and compassion.  Today is a day for us to reflect on how we are preparing our souls for this daily encounter and reception of the Lord in other people.