The Good Soil
A Homily For Sexagesima Sunday
During Gesimatide, we find ourselves in the second of two preparatory times within the liturgical calendar, the other being the Advent season. Advent is a time of preparing for the arrival of God, the incarnation, and the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. And once again, we are preparing to embark upon a forty-day journey with the one born on Christmas Day into the vast wilderness of Lent.
The three Gesima Sundays provide an introduction to Lent, preparing our hearts, bodies, and minds for the journey ahead. Last Sunday, Holy Mother Church encouraged us to intensify our spiritual training so that we can run the race well and ultimately receive the prize. As Paul said, "Every man that strives for mastery is temperate in all things." The simplest definition of temperance is the virtue that moderates our excessive desire for physical pleasures, keeping it within the boundaries set by reason and faith. In essence, Paul calls us to overcome sin by balancing vice with virtue.
The Apostle illustrates this spiritual struggle using athletic imagery, comparing the pursuit of holiness to a race. An incorruptible crown, symbolizing eternal life, is awarded to those who compete well and complete the race. To run effectively and to win, one must develop virtue. Specifically, the virtue of temperance is crucial for anyone serious about becoming a qualified competitor. This involves bringing the desires of the flesh under control through self-denial and moderation.
Today, St. Paul encourages us to pursue yet another virtue that is crucial for our journey toward holiness and serves as an essential companion for the upcoming Lenten season. The virtues are fortitude and patience. Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. To work diligently in the vineyard, we must develop the inner strength necessary for gathering a fruitful harvest—after all, who wants to labor in vain? What kind of fruit does the Master of the field wish to collect? Ultimately, isn't charity at the heart of it all? Love is the true and abundant fruit of God's kingdom.
The dual commandments of loving God and loving our neighbor encapsulate the ultimate aspirations of all spiritual endeavors and the quest for self-mastery. St. Paul beautifully reminds us, "For the fruit of the Spirit is love." There is no higher calling, no loftier vocation than embodying the love with which Christ loves us. The pinnacle of perfection is love, and love remains the fundamental aim and ultimate purpose of all Christian devotion. It is this rich, fertile soil of love that yields the most exquisite fruit.
This Jesus teaches once again through the Parable of the Sower. One might be tempted to rename it 'the parable of the soils', because Jesus' great concern is for the seed of the Gospel to land on good and fertile soil so it can take root yield fruit some thirty, some sixty, and some hundred-fold! Consider this: In our Lord's parable, three types of soil are unproductive, while only one is fruitful. It's important to understand that Jesus isn't discussing good and bad in an absolute ethical sense. Purity of heart cannot precede faith; it must follow it. Instead, think of it in terms of productive versus unproductive soil and the various challenges that can hinder our perseverance in becoming fruitful.
Some seeds scatter onto the wayside, landing in the cracks of pavement where they are never nurtured. Instead, they are crushed under the relentless busyness of the world, their potential lost in the rush of life. Other seeds find their way onto rocky ground, nestled in shallow soil that offers little sustenance. Here, their roots struggle to take hold, and eventually, they wither and die, starved for the depth and care they so desperately need. A few seeds do manage to take root and begin to flourish, bursting forth with life, but they soon find themselves overrun by thorns and thistles. These invasive weeds choke the life out of them, leaving nothing but a stark reminder of their struggle as they fade away.
The fertile soil is one that, upon receiving the seed, fulfills its purpose by yielding a bountiful harvest. Productive soil embodies an honest and open heart, marked by a quality and integrity that deliberately chooses the path of Christ. The well-tended ground is lovingly prepared and meticulously cultivated; any clods of earth are skillfully broken apart, the soil is finely sifted, and it receives ample hydration. A protective barrier is erected to safeguard against pests and critters, ensuring that nothing can undermine the precious fruits within. This process demands immense effort and unwavering care. Fruitfulness does not simply emerge on its own; it requires dedicated attention, nurturing care, and genuine concern for the growth that is sought after. It also takes demands fortitude.
Jesus teaches that the good soil "brings forth fruit with patience." In this context, St. Luke employs the Greek term ὑπομονή (hupomoné), which encapsulates a richer meaning than mere patience; it evokes concepts such as fortitude, steadfastness, perseverance, and patient endurance. Thus, the good soil is not just nurtured but is enriched with the profound virtue of fortitude, enabling it to bear fruit over time.
The virtue of fortitude is the ability to withstand and endure the trials and tribulations that life presents. It is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, a divine endowment from God designed to help us thrive in His vineyard. Unlike the seed that finds itself on rocky terrain—where roots struggle to take hold—fortitude remains steadfast, resolutely persevering despite challenges. Yes, it may encounter seasons of barrenness when growth seems stagnant, yet it does not surrender to despair. Instead, it engages in the continuous and diligent work of nurturing the soil, weeding out distractions, and fostering a healthy environment for growth. Fortitude does not succumb to the allure of worldly concerns or the temptations of the Devil. No, fortitude keeps its resolute hand firmly on the plow, committed to the labor of love and the promise of fruitful yield.
Jesus warns us that the Devil, like a bird in the air, will come to pluck the seeds of the good news of Jesus Christ from our hearts. He works craftily, often disguising himself as an angel of light, presenting attractive and shiny temptations but always accompanied by lies, for he is "the father of lies," and in him resides not life but death. His sole purpose is "to kill, steal, and destroy." St. Peter advises us that humility, sobriety, and vigilance are the weapons we can use to fend off this roaring lion. We must remain steadfast, relying on the grace of fortitude, so that we are always prepared to resist the schemes of the Devil because temptations, trials, and tribulations in this world can wither the vine of faith and kill its fruits.
Now, St. Paul was a man acquainted with trials and tribulation. He suffered at the hand of his fellow countrymen, bore the sting of the Roman cane, was robbed as he traveled, and was stoned by violent mobs. He suffered at the cruel hand of nature, was shipwrecked, spent days lost at sea, and was overcome by floods and all sorts of natural calamities. He was not only tormented by men and nature but within his very soul, suffering daily for the church, writing, "besides those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches." Just imagine the incredible burden of concerns and worries he carried for every single church, for every single believer,
"Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I do not burn?" Listen to the anguish of this Bishop as he reflects on his churches, as he suffers for every weak believer who has been led astray. He empathetically shares in their struggles as their faithful shepherd and fellow traveler. He even speaks as the foolish do, boasting to the Corinthians about his many trials. But why is he boasting? Is it to showcase his bravery and greatness? No!
This is the key to patient endurance: Paul is not boasting about himself—unlike the false apostles in Corinth—but rather about how great and wonderful the grace of God is that sustains him in his weakness. Patience, fortitude, humility, and every virtue are works of grace. In Christ, we are strong, and by clinging to Him, we—like Paul—will endure.
"If I must need glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities." Fellow laborers, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." When, by the boundless grace of God, you endure and triumph over the trials of this earthly existence, give thanks to God: "Of such a one will I boast," says the Apostle, "yet of myself I will not boast, but in my weaknesses."
Ultimately, we must steadfastly resist the seductive temptations of the flesh. As it is written, "And that which fell among thorns are they which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares, and riches, and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection." In our quest to cultivate the fruit of perfection, we cannot afford to succumb to the clutches of worldly distractions—those incessant demands of busyness and the relentless pursuit of material wealth.
Such concerns have a way of choking the very seed of our potential, suffocating it under the weight of ease, comfort, gain, possession, accomplishment, and even entertainment. These can all be good in moderation and appreciated for their fleeting nature, yet when the desire for these temporal pleasures overshadows our longing for Christ and his kingdom—who is the very vine that feeds and nourishes, then the branch is choked.
With patient fortitude, we must navigate the relentless and enticing allure of this world and all that it has to offer. It's crucial to maintain a proper perspective on created things, viewing them as valuable yet secondary, forever held subordinate to Christ, the source of all goodness. Only then can we truly thrive and bear fruit that is rich and lasting, rooted in the eternal rather than the ephemeral.
Jesus says, "the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. The Good soil is characterized by an honest and good heart because Christ, the seed, is deeply embedded in that ground. With Christ as the seed nestled in the earthly soil of our hearts, we can cultivate, guard, and nourish it to produce the perfect fruit of righteousness. This yield arises from patient fortitude, allowing us to endure every trial, persecution, and adversary we face. St. James writes, "Count it all joy, my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces fortitude. And let patience (hoop-om-on-ay'/fortitude) have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:4).
The journey toward holiness involves the courageous exercise of fortitude in the midst of adversity, motivated solely by our profound love for God. Our virtues are constantly put to the test by the actions of others and the unpredictable trials that life presents. Yet, when we confront these challenges with unwavering patience and gentle meekness, driven by our love for God, we experience transformative growth in holiness. The heart nurtured in good soil is cultivated by a sincere love for God and others. Love is compelled by grace. It is by grace that the once-cursed ground of our disobedient hearts are rejuvenated and restored to a state reminiscent of Eden, and we are able to walk once again in communion with our God.
So let us nurture the soil of our hearts by imitating the Good Sower, Jesus Christ, who suffered patiently on earth and endured the tribulation of the Cross. It was through patient suffering that our Lord obtained eternal glory. So let us become imitators of His fortitude, and when suffering comes on account of His name, may we glory in Him. For He is the icon of patience and fortitude. And this we believe: that Christ is our strength. Therefore, let us boast in him. Amen+
