If you’re a gardener, you’ve probably already harvested some of what you planted in the spring. Maybe some of the flowers are already adorning your home. Maybe you’ve eaten some of the vegetables. Or maybe you’ve been disappointed with the germination of some of those seeds, and you’re already considering how to amend the soil for next year.
Jesus knows this situation. He scatters the seeds of the Word liberally and generously, but often the germination rate is poor or the yield is less than it might have been. What’s the problem? It’s certainly not the seed itself, which is the Word of the Kingdom. The problem lies in the hearts of those who hear this Word, whether they are prepared to receive it.
Some hearts have no understanding and no desire to understand, so the Enemy steals away the seed before it can form the tiniest roots. Some hearts are eager for the comfort, the “warm-fuzzy” feeling of the Word of Truth, but they turn away quickly when it challenges them, and the seed is never nurtured and cannot take root in them. Some hearts are distracted by the “5P’s”: power, prestige, pleasure, prosperity, and popularity; they hear but cannot embrace the Word because they are holding on to other things and it cannot flourish in them. But some hearts are ready and eager, prepared by prayer, enriched by desire, and furrowed by humility, and the Word finds rich earth where it can root and grow and bear much fruit.
Our hearts must be properly prepared to receive the seed of the Word. With prayer and humility, we can become like Mary, fertile earth to receive and nourish and give growth to the Seed planted in us, so that we can bear fruit and yield a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold! Let’s pray that God will prepare our hearts to receive the Seed of the Word eagerly and fruitfully every time we hear the Gospel proclaimed so that we can bear much fruit.
Si eres jardinero, probablemente ya hayas cosechado algo de sembraste en la primavera. Tal vez unas flores ya están adornando tu hogar. Tal vez has comido algunas de las verduras. O tal vez te hayas decepcionado con la germinación de algunas de esas semillas, y ya estés considerando cómo mejorar la tierra para el próximo año.
Jesús conoce esta situación. Esparce las semillas de la Palabra con liberalidad y generosidad, pero a menudo la tasa de germinación es pobre o el rendimiento es menor de lo que podría haber sido. ¿Cuál es el problema? Ciertamente no es la semilla misma, que es la Palabra del Reino. El problema está en el corazón de los que escuchan esta Palabra, si están preparados para recibirla.
Algunos corazones no tienen comprensión ni deseo de comprender, por lo que el Enemigo roba la semilla antes de que pueda formar las más pequeñas raíces. Algunos corazones están ansiosos por el consuelo, el sentimiento “tibio-borroso” de la Palabra de Verdad, pero se alejan rápidamente cuando los desafía, y la semilla nunca se nutre y no puede echar raíces en ellos. Algunos corazones se distraen con las “5P”: poder, prestigio, placer, prosperidad y popularidad; escuchan pero no pueden abrazar la Palabra porque se aferran a otras cosas y no puede florecer en ellos. Pero algunos corazones están dispuestos y ansiosos, preparados por la oración, enriquecidos por el deseo y surcados por la humildad, y la Palabra encuentra tierra fértil donde echar raíces y crecer y dar mucho fruto.
Nuestro corazón debe estar debidamente preparado para recibir la semilla de la Palabra. Con oración y humildad, podemos llegar a ser como María, tierra fértil para recibir y nutrir y hacer crecer la Semilla plantada en nosotros, para que podamos dar fruto y rendir al ciento o al sesenta o al treinta por uno! Oremos para que Dios prepare nuestros corazones para recibir la Semilla de la Palabra con entusiasmo y fruto cada vez que escuchemos proclamar el Evangelio para que podamos dar mucho fruto.
Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including Father Rob), and seven grandchildren. She is President of the local community of Secular Discalced Carmelites and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 30 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE, and as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio. Currently, she serves the Church by writing and speaking, and by collaborating with various parishes and to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is www.KathrynTherese.com
Feature Image Credit: Gelgas Airlangga, www.pexels.com/photo/shallow-focus-of-sprout-401213/
Deacon Dan Schneider is a retired general manager of industrial distributors. He and his wife Vicki have been married for over 50 years. They are the parents of eight children and thirty grandchildren. He has a degree in Family Life Education from Spring Arbor University. He was ordained a Permanent Deacon in 2002. He has a passion for working with engaged and married couples and his main ministry has been preparing couples for marriage.
Emily Jaminet is a Catholic author, speaker, radio personality, wife, and mother of seven children. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mental health and human services from the Franciscan University of Steubenville. She is the co-founder of 
Sheryl is happy to be the number 1 cheerleader and supporter for her husband, Tom who is a candidate for the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Kalamazoo. They are so grateful for the opportunity to grow together in this process. Sheryl’s day job is serving her community as the principal for St. Therese Catholic School in Wayland, Michigan. Since every time she thinks she gets life all figured out, she realizes just how far she has to go, St. Rita of Cascia is her go-to Saint for intercession and help. Home includes Carlyn, a very, very goofy Golden Retriever and Lucy, our not-so-little rescue puppy. 
David Dashiell is a freelance author and editor in Nashville, Tennessee. He has a master’s degree in theology from Franciscan University, and is the editor of the anthology 
Dakota lives in Denver, CO with her husband, Ralph, and their two sons, Alfie & Theophilus. She is the Dean of Enrollment Management for Bishop Machebeuf High School where her husband also teaches. You can find Dakota at the zoo or a brewery with her family or with her nose in a book at home. For more of Dakota’s writing check out 
Kate Taliaferro is an Air Force wife and mother. She is blessed to be able to homeschool, bake bread and fold endless piles of laundry. When not planning a school day, writing a blog post or cooking pasta, Kate can be found curled up with a book or working with some kind of fiber craft. Kate blogs at 
A lover of Jesus Christ, a wife, and a mother of five, Christine is the author of Everyday Heroism: 28 Daily Reflections on the Little Way of Motherhood. She is a graduate of Franciscan University, an instructor for the Institute for Excellence in Writing, and an experienced catechist. Thrilled to have recently become grandparents, she and her husband currently live in Upstate, NY. Visit her author webpage at 
Mike Karpus is a regular guy. He grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, graduated from Michigan State University and works as an editor. He is married to a Catholic school principal, raised two daughters who became Catholic school teachers at points in their careers, and now relishes his two grandchildren, including the older one who is fascinated with learning about his faith. He also has served on a Catholic school board, a pastoral council and a parish stewardship committee. He currently is a lector at Mass, a Knight of Columbus, Adult Faith Formation Committee member and a board member of the local Habitat for Humanity organization. But mostly he’s a regular guy.
Susan Ciancio has a BA in psychology and a BA in sociology from the University of Notre Dame, with an MA in liberal studies from Indiana University. For the past 19 years, she has worked as a professional editor and writer, editing both fiction and nonfiction books, magazine articles, blogs, educational lessons, professional materials and website content. Thirteen of those years have been in the pro-life sector. Currently Susan freelances and writes weekly for HLI, edits for American Life League, and is the executive editor of Celebrate Life Magazine. She also serves as executive editor for the Culture of Life Studies Program—an educational nonprofit program for K-12 students. You can reach her at 
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