Sow the Word of God ... Despite the results

"Listen to this! A sower went out to sow. "Mark 4: 3

This line begins the familiar parable of the sower. We are aware of the details of this parable as the sower sows on the path, on rocky ground, between the thorns and, finally, on good soil. History reveals that we must strive to be like that "good soil" in that we must receive the Word of God in our souls, allowing it to be cultivated so that it can grow in abundance.

But this parable reveals something more that could easily be lost. It reveals the simple fact that the sower, in order to plant at least some seeds in a good and fertile soil, must act. It must act by spreading seeds in abundance. As he does so, he should not be discouraged if most of the seed he has sown cannot reach that good soil. The path, the rocky ground and the thorny ground are all places where the seed is sown but eventually dies. Only one of the four places identified in this parable produces growth.

Jesus is the Divine Sower and His Word is the Seed. Therefore, we should realize that we are also called to act in His person by sowing the seed of His Word in our own lives. Just as he is willing to sow with the realization that not all seeds will bear fruit, so we too must be ready and willing to accept this same fact.

The truth is that, very often, the work we offer God for building His Kingdom ultimately produces few or no manifest fruits. Hearts harden and the good we do, or the Word we share, does not grow.

One lesson we need to draw from this parable is that spreading the gospel requires effort and commitment on our part. We must be willing to work and work for the gospel, regardless of whether or not people are willing to receive it. And we must not allow ourselves to be discouraged if the results are not what we hoped for.

Reflect today on the mission that was given to you by Christ to spread His Word. Say "Yes" to that mission and then look for ways to sow His Word every day. Expect much of the effort unfortunately you make to manifest small fruits. However, have deep hope and confidence that part of that seed will reach the soil that our Lord wants it to reach. Engaged in planting; God will worry about the rest.

Lord, I make myself available to you for the purposes of the gospel. I promise to serve you every day and I commit myself to be a sower of your divine Word. Help me not to focus too much on the results of the effort I make; rather help me to entrust those results only to you and your divine providence. Jesus I believe in you.