A hummingbird hovering at our feeder.
Picture by Jerry Torres
Our Blog is inspired by The Holy Spirit.
Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church
On another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea.
A very large crowd gathered around him
so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down.
And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land.
And he taught them at length in parables,
and in the course of his instruction he said to them,
“Hear this! A sower went out to sow.
And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,
and the birds came and ate it up.
Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil.
It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.
And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots.
Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it
and it produced no grain.
And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit.
It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”
He added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”
And when he was alone,
those present along with the Twelve
questioned him about the parables.
He answered them,
“The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you.
But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that
they may look and see but not perceive,
and hear and listen but not understand,
in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.”
Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable?
Then how will you understand any of the parables?
The sower sows the word.
These are the ones on the path where the word is sown.
As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once
and takes away the word sown in them.
And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who,
when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy.
But they have no roots; they last only for a time.
Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word,
they quickly fall away.
Those sown among thorns are another sort.
They are the people who hear the word,
but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches,
and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word,
and it bears no fruit.
But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it
and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”
Emphasis mine Mark 4:1-20
We had written before that the soil can change.
I, yes, I once felt the soil I was planted in was a final destination. But, if that were true, then explain the Cross where the criminal on the right was truly not in rich soil UNTIL, he acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah.
And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Underline mine Luke 23: 41-43
We would submit that bad soil doesn’t go into Paradise.
This is just one reason why in my youth, I fully knew I was a sinner, I also knew God was up there, and I was down here, and please leave me alone.
But,
The soil shifted and I found that being in rich soil was filled with Love, Joy, and Peace. And, as the criminal on the right found out (who I also believed died filled with Love, Joy, and Peace), I denounced my old lifestyle and moved into the rich soil.
Changing soil is really easy, all it takes is the belief that there is a Triune God, a God of Outrageous Love, waiting for you to reach out and ask to be part of the family.
Never forget Jesus said,
“whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:35
And,
What is the will of your Father? That you help build Their Church.
Then,
You will find yourself in Rich Soil.
Prayer:
If you want to grow in Love, Joy and Peace, this is a result of growth in Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.
Sidebar:
Last week I went to Sam’s to fill up the gas tank for a trip to Connecticut to attend a family outing.
Filling up the gas tank is something we all do every week – nothing special, I think you would all agree.
While filling it up, I had a casual conversation with the man across from me.
I completed filling my gas tank, put the gas nozzle back, closed up my gas tank, and was about to leave
When
The Holy Spirit told me, “Give him a card.” satan also said, “Skip it.”
We came back to the man, reached in my pocket where I carry cards all the time, pulled out a card and as we were giving the card to him said, “Learn the nine words in red and watch your life change.”
He looked at me and said, “I’m a believer, God bless you.”
I got back into the car and the thought that filled my mind, the Holy Spirit, was, “I received a blessing pumping gas.”
In eight-five years this has never happened before, and I love it. I have had many thank me, some said this was needed at this moment, but no one ever blessed me.
Rich Soil is so much more Joyful to live in.
Picture:
A hummingbird hovering at our feeder.
“I know every bird…” Psalm 50:11
Picture by Jerry Torres
Please keep Snapping!
And if you want the ten calling cards shown above, email me and I will send you my address, send me a STAMPED self-addressed envelope and I will send you ten cards.
The offer for the cards is for American readers only. The Post office won’t accept foreign stamps.
If you want a copy of the prayers we discussed.
Send an email to: fprince101@gmail.com
Remember, if you want to submit a picture, please do not include people. We have to get permission from that person to use their photograph.
