I am self-quarantining today, someone in my immediate family was exposed to COVID 19; so, I may have been exposed. Speaking with Father, we decided I should self-quarantine.
This possible exposure was revealed yesterday; the same day the governor of Louisiana mandated (with some exceptions) wearing masks in public places to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
With that mandate, people are grumbling and calling it an attack on freedom.
Interesting reaction – “know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even now…,” the words of St. Paul to the Romans and he continued. “The sufferings of the present are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.”
In these pains and sufferings, listen to Jesus' parable of the sower. “… some seeds fell beside the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up; but when the sun rose, they were scorched and withered away. Some seeds fell among thorns, and were choked. But other seeds fell into good ground and produced grain.”
Jesus was speaking about his message. But, if you have a garden or potted plants, this is a familiar idea. For seeds to be bountiful, you want to plant them in good soil.
The devil understands the concept as well and has prepared this world for his seeds to be planted. He has prepared it since the beginning. When the opportunity arises, the devil sows his seed. The deceiver will disguise it as a good seed.
He sows everywhere - on the path, on rocky ground, in the thorns, and in fertile soil. The devil has sown his seed among the good and the bad. He throws it among believers and non-believers. It is planted to grow in the poor and oppressed, the rich and privileged, and those in the middle. Because the devil has been preparing the world for so long, many are fertile soil.
Disguised as good seed, the devil brings his agenda.
The cry for social justice is not a bad seed. It is a seed of the Church. But evil can use the need for goodness to hide his seed. Look to see who is sowing the seed.
The equality and dignity of all people is good seed. It is the truth Jesus Christ preached. But the one who challenges God turns it to bring greater injustices by disregarding the equality and dignity of every human life: the unborn, the elderly, the disabled, and those different.
Evil can disguise the seed it sows as the purest of seed. Many do not understand this is happening.
Jesus told his disciples - they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand. That is a message for the world today. People hear the message of evil and do not understand it for what it is.
“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For people’s heart have become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.”
All that the devil has put in this world will not be changed unless hearts are changed. The devil has prepared many hearts as a soil to grow his seed. Changing this requires a change of hearts found only by the opening of our hearts to Christ.
This reflection is not condemning the call for change; it is calling for true change through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Justice is not about the color of one's skin; it is about the color of the heart. Ending oppression and poverty is not about changing the economic system; it is about changing hearts.
Accepting the equality of persons and respect for each and every person’s life can never be forced in this world. True equality and respect of persons is found in the recognition that we are one people called to be children of God.
Before you plant any seed, look at the seed you are planting.
Whether a seed is good or bad has nothing to do with a certain phrase or wearing a mask. It has everything to do with what is in the fertile ground of our hearts and who made that heart ready to receive the seed.
Thus says the Lord: My word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.
Be good, be holy, and preach the Gospel by the way you live your life and love one another. That is a seed to plant in this world. Amen.
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