9781644135945

The Light of the World
(Epistle). “But that [which fell] on the good ground are they who in a good and perfect heart,
hearing the word, keep it and bring forth fruit in patience.”
“In a good and perfect heart.” We have received the word of God, and we shall continue to
receive it. But shall we continue to preserve it in a perfect heart? Shall we receive it and protect
and nourish it as St. Paul did? Why do we not experience a growth in holiness such as Paul
experienced? There are three things that interfere with our growth in holiness. “Some fell by
the wayside,” in a soul distracted and dissipated by idle fancies and futile plans. Such a soul is
barren of spiritual fruit, because it must investigate every new face that appears, read every item
in the papers, and know and listen to everything that goes on about it. Its energies are dissipated
by the pursuit of temporal things and has no time for God, for prayer, or meditation. It walks
so much in the world that it has no time to walk with God.
“Some other fell upon a rock.” This is the timid or selfish soul that shrinks from any
sacrifice. It may be pious and religious, but as soon as it is called upon to undergo hardships
or temptation, it renounces the word for its own peace and comfort. “And some fell among
thorns.” These souls receive the word of God, and by the grace of God are determined to
become pious and virtuous. In spite of their good resolutions, however, they allow bad
habits and unmortified passions to grow up in their hearts. They retain a passionate attachment
to their worldly goods, to the comforts of life, to the esteem of their fellow men, to
their profession, their studies, and their hobbies. They insist on their own will, they fail to
improve their traits of character, they insist on their own opinions, and waste much time
and effort pampering their bodies and providing for their own comfort. These unmortified
habits, which they refuse to correct, are the thorns which choke out the good seed in their
souls. This dissipation, lukewarmness, and attachment to the world are the obstacles that
hinder the growth of the word of God in our souls. Any lack of fruitfulness in us is not the
fault of the seed, but the fault of the soil in which it is planted.
Today we are assembled at the tomb of St. Paul. We feel ourselves united with him, and as we
gather in his church today, we long to be filled with his strength and his spirit. Oh, that like him we
might prove good ground, in which Christ, the divine husbandman, sows the seed so abundantly!
We will have to improve ourselves in many ways if the seed is to bring forth fruit in our
souls. Above all, we must prepare the soil of our soul. We must remove all that can prevent or
impair the work of grace in our hearts. Indifference, lukewarmness, and attachment to the world
must go. Above all, we must cast off all ill-regulated attachments and unbecoming activities.
The words of the Apostle apply to us: “For the earth that drinketh in the rain which cometh
often upon it, and bringeth forth herbs, meet for them by whom it is tilled, receiveth blessing
from God. But that which bringeth forth thorns and briers, is reprobate and very near unto a
curse, whose end is to be burnt” (Heb 6:7 f.).
Today, as we gather to celebrate the holy mysteries, we place our petitions on the paten
and beg God, for the sake of Christ’s offering, to give us the strength to renounce perfectly
everything that would hinder the growth of His grace in our soul.
Prayer
We humbly beseech Thee, O almighty God, that we may be enlightened by Thy grace, that we
may know what we must do, and do what is right. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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