In today’s Gospel, Jesus interprets for his puzzled disciples the parable he told them about seeds falling on different kinds of ground. The seed that falls on rocky ground, Jesus says, is like people who have no roots and so give up when difficulty comes along. The seed fallen among thorns represents people who don’t stay with the task of building the kingdom because of anxiety or the “lure of riches.” Disciples, Jesus is saying, must be in the discipleship business for the long haul, hearing and understanding the Word during their whole life journey, and bearing fruit persistently. Today’s Epistle from Romans says: “I consider the sufferings of the present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us … all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now… ” No matter how holy we are, or how effective as disciples, the kingdom unfortunately won’t happen in our lifetime, but rather in the future time of glory revealed to us … when creation finishes its groaning, its development. Perhaps we today can understand these Scriptures even better than the disciples could. Today we know about the long history of our unfinished, evolving universe. We also understand how it takes years to effect changes in the complex social, political and economic systems of today. Nevertheless, “in the hope of things unseen,” but with the assured future that Jesus revealed to us, we disciples must be faithful to our discipleship call. We can only do that if we grow deep roots into the fertile ground of our relationship with Jesus, if we grow our faith understanding. That takes tending to our souls! When I get discouraged because the world seems to be getting worse instead of better, I know I need to do more soul work! What soul work are you doing these days?
— Blog entry by Sister Mary Garascia