A transformed body and open heart to the Divine word bears fruit

A transformed body and open heart to the Divine word bears fruit

By REV. FR. SAMUEL FREDERICK

1 Cor. 15:35-37.42-49, Lk. 8:4-15. Today's first reading presents us with an apology of the resurrection of the body which will reach its full form when it dies in Christ. Paul demonstrates this with example taken from the sowing of seed to makes us understand that the current body will take a new form in afterlife. As the seed is only a little substance with life, when it is sown and dies, it is able to experience further growth and produce a new and fuller life. At resurrection, divine potential glows deep within us, like a seed buried in the ground. Instead of taking the resurrection as the resuscitation of the current bodily form, at resurrection the body takes a qualitative and transformed self, freed from corruption. This transformed body will however, yields fruit if the body lives the life of Christ who had been raised up to the fullness of spiritual life. We have to live and then experience death to this life, in order to be joined to Jesus in the eternal life that awaits us in God’s Heavenly realm.

In today's Gospel, Jesus demonstrates His teaching on openness to the Divine word, with the parable of the sower, so that we can nurture the seed of faith planted in us. When the farmer sows in the field, "some fell on the edge of the path and was trampled on; and the birds of the air ate it up. Some seed fell on rock, and when it came up it withered away, having no moisture. Some seed fell amongst thorns and the thorns grew with it and choked it and some seed fell into rich soil and grew and produced its crop a hundredfold." The seed which falls among thorns is choked by the 'thorns' of earthly pursuits. Only the seed that falls on the soil which has been prepared for it will be able to produce as abundantly as possible. Just as the seed can fall on the footpath and be trampled upon, God's word sown in us may be crushed by godless opinion and careless lifestyle. If the seed falls on rocky ground, it cannot take root but quickly dries up since it has no root in the first place. If our life is not properly guided, the influence of the world may make the word sown in us be without depth. If we must grow to full stature of perfection, we must be receptive of the word of God, sink its root deep in our hearts and make it part of us. Without making our heart a veritable place for the word of God to take root, we can lose our longing for prayer, reflection and self-denial, without which we cannot yield fruits.

May the word of God find a prepared and fertile place within us so that we may produce a rich and abundant harvest for our good and the good of those around us! Amen!! Good morning and happy weekend!!!

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