The Word of Jesus is not a concept to be understood with the brain and to be put into practice with our non-existent strengths. Instead, it is a seed that at the right moment comes gently into our hearts, if we welcome it, and gradually grows in this welcome. We pass from the moralism of saving ourselves to faith in a God who takes us by the hand and accompanies us serenely on the path of maturation.
But there are always two extremes: on the one hand, having to do everything immediately with our sole will, and on the other, not keeping a balanced eye on what can hinder our growth. We have margins in which we can choose if and how much to collaborate in the grace that is given to us. We can sometimes let someone steal the Word from us, in a thousand ways, distracting us from listening to it; we can allow ourselves to be dominated by choices of pride, whim, closure, even when the Spirit has put us in a position to overcome that temptation. In the same way, we can choose not listen and follow the serene voice, light, which in the heart directs us not to let ourselves be too troubled by worries or subjugated by the craving for money or various power.
The good ground is he who says the text, listens to the Word, and accepts it, that is, with serene common sense puts it together with concrete life. Then life gradually blossoms because God does not think only of our disembodied soul but he brings all of our humanity towards the ways of its full realization. Sometimes, for example, by showing us new, decisive ways, close to us and which, too, turned in on ourselves, we did not recognize – the power of sincere prayer, which seeks to welcome the invoked Spirit into concrete life.
Let us pray that the Holy Spirit guide our thoughts and understanding and prepare our ears to be “good soil” as we receive the “seed” of God’s Word and it grows toward an abundant harvest.