By Kate Walsh-Soucheray

“As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” ~Matthew 13:23

The Soil of Our Souls

If you have ever purchased a package of seeds from your favorite store and planted them in a garden, you know how vital the life of the soil is to the growth of your plants. We need water and sunshine, but if the soil has not been nourished and saturated with nutrients, the seeds may germinate, but not flourish. If we are hoping for vegetables and flowers, then our seeds must not only germinate, but they must grow.

The message of our Gospel for today reminds us that the soil in which our spiritual life will grow must be fertile and rich. If the spiritual life we hope to lead is likened to the path on which the seeds are sown, which represent our best intentions with no action, and are eaten by the birds, we never give them a chance to germinate. If we do not remove the rocks from the soil of our garden, which represent the memories we would like to put behind us no matter how many Confessions we have made, the rocks will cause the soil to be shallow and the sun to scorch and wither our spiritual efforts. If we allow thistles and weeds to grow in our garden, which represent the condition of our heart toward others for something that may have been done or said decades ago, and we hope to have an abundant crop in the fall, the soil of our soul will be overrun with negativity and bitterness that will grow and choke our plants.

The Rich Soil that Yields a Rich Harvest

However, if we hope to have a garden to tend and admire throughout the summer, to provide a cool space for worms to navigate and hummingbirds or bees to visit, as well as to provide a perch for sparrows and cardinals to land and rest, then we must provide the proper soil for all of these aspects of our garden to occur. Likewise, our soul must be nourished and fed through quiet moments with Jesus. We must spend time in prayer and quiet contemplation on the Blessed Sacrament. We must at least attend weekly Mass, and daily Mass if possible. We must participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation on a regular basis and attend to righteous behavior. We must surround ourselves with good, holy friends who encourage us to be our truest, best selves, seeing ourselves as God sees us. We must be willing to let go of any anger or bitterness toward ourselves or others and allow ourselves to rest in the peace Jesus offers us.

This is not as easy or comfortable as it seems. Growing a beautiful garden requires daily attendance to the soil, sun, and water, which is likened to the daily care of our soul. Let the seeds you sow today begin the good work Jesus wants to do in you.

Prayer:

Dear, sweet Jesus, please give me the grace today to tend to the soil of my soul. Please help me understand the importance of spending time with You in prayer so that my soul is able to respond to all You ask of me.

Call to Action:

  • Take time this week to go to the Adoration Chapel at your church or at a nearby church, and spend time in quiet prayer with Our Lord;
  • Ask Jesus what He wants from you and wait for the peace you receive in His reply. It is essential for our will to align with His Will if we hope to find peace in each day.

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