15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Thornbushes

Today's Gospel reading is a lengthy one!  But well worth the reflection.  It's Matthew 13:1-23, the parable of the sower. 

I hate and love summer.  I love it because of the nice weather and long days, one can get a lot of things done.  From brandings to rodeos and things on the ranch worth riding on, checking, and doctoring can occur in the summer time.  I also despise the summer because the days are long and there is so much work to do!  I leave the house around 7, sometimes earlier if we are haying, and like to be outside all evening in the arena practicing with the kids.  These make for long days!  I am not against long days and a good days work, there is dignity in work but that's for a different blog.

This summer I've been caught up in worldly things.  First we had a nice horse in a sale, got a little consumed with how much he'd bring, and God's sense of humor we had to put him down due to a broken knee.  Then I drug some mares all over the country to get bred to some nice studs.  If you've ever done that you know what I mean when I say, it's a headache (hopefully worth it).  Then the youth rodeos began.  We practiced, entered up, and headed out.  It's been a blast but as you can see we have made ourselves THE busiest family on this side of Sioux County.  Not too mention my own rodeo aspirations...

The sad part is I have felt a dryness in my soul.  About as dry as the lands around me.  Every morning I sit in my chair and pray, read scripture, and usually a short devotional.  But then I get up and get going, burning daylight ya know!  So why is it that I feel this distance from Christ?  Why then is it harder and harder to live a virtuous life?  Why is it becoming harder and harder to be a witness?  Where's the zeal man?!

After reading today's gospel I felt Jesus solve my dilemma.  It's not that HE isn't throwing and sowing plenty of seeds around me it's that they are not falling on RICH soil.  My heart and soul has been over run by thorns!  "The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches CHOKE the word and it bears no fruit."  I hear the word of God.  I receive HIM in the Eucharist at Mass and yet I'm thinking about making it to the afternoon performance at the rodeo that day, or how well my kids did at their youth rodeo, or that I need to ride that customer's horse when I get home and it cools off.  I'm making it difficult for God's word to bear fruit in my life.

So what? 

Get your weeding gloves on and ask Christ to help ya.  He'll help you along by doing an examination of conscience.  Find one at usccb.org.  Let God walk you through step by step the weeding process, and then get to Mass early enough to go to Confession.  Let the waters of grace wash away your sins and worldly desires.  Then ask for wisdom and knowledge in the days ahead.  This is why Mass matters!  Be a Man and work just as hard to bear fruit for God's kingdom as you do in the field. 

Like I said, it's not bad to want to be successful at everyday things.  But when we obsess over it we allow the thorns to grow up and choke out God's word.  This is what I am in the parable.  What kind of soil does God have to work with in you?