Pope Francis: "If we want, we can become a good ground"

Pope Francis urged Catholics on Sunday to reflect on whether they are receptive to the Word of God.

In his Angelus speech of 12 July, he meditated on the Gospel reading on Sunday, in which Jesus tells the parable of the sower. In the parable, a farmer spreads seeds on four types of soil - a path, rocky terrain, thorns and good soil - only the last of which successfully produces wheat.

The pope said: “We can ask ourselves: what kind of soil are they? Do I look like the path, the rocky ground, the bush? "

“But, if we want, we can become a good soil, carefully plowed and cultivated, to help mature the seed of the Word. It is already present in our heart, but making it fruitful depends on us; it depends on the embrace we reserve for this seed. "

Pope Francis described the history of the sower as "somehow the" mother "of all parables", since he focuses on a fundamental element of Christian life: listening to the Word of God.

“The Word of God, symbolized by the seeds is not an abstract Word, but it is Christ himself, the Word of the Father who became flesh in Mary's womb. Therefore, embracing the Word of God means embracing the character of Christ; of Christ himself, "he said, according to an unofficial translation provided by the Holy See press office.

Reflecting on the seed fallen on the path and immediately consumed by the birds, the pope observed that this represented "distraction, a great danger of our time".

He said: "With a lot of chatter, many ideologies, continuous opportunities to get distracted inside and outside the home, we can lose the desire for silence, reflection, dialogue with the Lord, so as to risk losing our faith, not receiving the Word of God, while we see everything, distracted from everything, from earthly things ”.

Speaking from a window overlooking St. Peter's Square, he turned to the rocky ground, where the seeds sprouted but soon wilted.

“This is the image of those who receive the Word of God with momentary enthusiasm, although it remains superficial; it does not assimilate the Word of God, "he explained.

"In this way, at the first difficulty, like an unease or a disturbance of life, that still weak faith dissolves, while the seed withers that falls among the rocks."

He continued: “Another third possibility, that of which Jesus speaks in the parable, we could receive the Word of God as a land where thorn bushes grow. And the thorns are the deception of wealth, of success, of worldly concerns ... There, the word grows a little, but it becomes suffocated, it is not strong, and dies or does not bear fruit. "

“Finally, the fourth possibility, we can receive it as a good ground. Here, and only here, the seed takes root and bears fruit. The seed fallen on this fertile ground represents those who listen to the Word, embrace it, safeguard it in their heart and put it into practice in everyday life ".

The pope suggested that a good way to fight distraction and distinguish Jesus' voice from competing voices was to read the Word of God every day.

"And I return once again to that advice: always keep with you a practical copy of the Gospel, a pocket edition of the Gospel, in your pocket, in your bag ... and so, every day, you read a short passage, so that you get used to reading the Word of God, to understand well the seed that God offers you and to think about the earth that receives it, "he said.

He also encouraged Catholics to seek help from the Virgin Mary, the "perfect model of good and fertile soil."

After reciting the Angelus, the pope recalled that July 12 was the Sunday of the sea, an annual observance marked all over the world, which said: “I extend warm greetings to all those who work on the sea, especially those who are far from their loved ones and their country. "

In improvised remarks, he added: “And the sea takes me a little further in my thoughts: to Istanbul. I think of Hagia Sophia and I am very saddened. "

The pope seems to be referring to the decision by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to sign a decree of July 10 that transforms the ancient former Byzantine cathedral into an Islamic place of worship.

Addressing the pilgrims gathered in the square below, who distanced themselves to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus, he said: "I greet with gratitude the representatives of the Pastoral Ministry for Health of the Diocese of Rome, thinking of the numerous priests, religious women and men and lay people who have been and remain on the side of the sick, in this pandemic period ”.