Jesus said to his disciples:
“Hear the parable of the sower.
The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the Kingdom
without understanding it,
and the Evil One comes and steals away
what was sown in his heart.
The seed sown on rocky ground
is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy.
But he has no root and lasts only for a time.
When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word,
he immediately falls away.
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.
But the seed sown on rich soil
is the one who hears the word and understands it,
who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”
Matthew 13: 18-23
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There are different ways of accepting the Word of God. The fruit it bears depends on a person’s heart.
In the Gospel today, the same Word is spoken to different listeners. Some receive it without understanding; the Evil One whispers lies in their heart, stealing what was sown.
Others receive the Word with joy, but their faith lacks any root. Once a trial comes their way, their faith is the first thing to go.
Others receive the Word, but prefer the things of this world to the things that are eternal.
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Finally, there are those whose hearts are like rich, fertile soil. They hear the Word and are permanently changed by it.
But consider the effort it takes to make soil fertile – and by extension, a human heart open to the Word of God.
In order to make soil fertile, you must dig into it; break it; and repeatedly separate it. That period of chaos is what opens the ground, allowing it to receive seeds, and ultimately, to give life.
Any sturdy plant was once a tiny seed placed inside broken, fertile soil.
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What does this mean for us?
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Our hearts are most fertile after being broken.
Think of any stressful, frustrating, or traumatic experience. In those moments, it feels like we’ve been tossed about – broken inside – much like rich, fertile soil.
They are blessed, Jesus says, the ones who turn to him in that hour. It’s then that the Word of God has the greatest chance to take deep root within us, to change us, and to bear good fruit.
As Saint Paul says, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
These gifts come from within; they’re the fruit of a broken heart receptive to the Word of God.
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How receptive am I to the Word of God?
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“The seed sown on rich soil,” Jesus says, “is the one who hears and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”
May we turn to the Lord in our darkest hours, knowing that when we’re broken, the Word has the greatest potential to take root within, transforming us for the better.
In life, we spend so much on repairing broken things — broken cars, broken plumbing, broken gadgets and many other material things. However, there are some things on this earth that cannot be restored by human hands nor can be painted off with a few hundred dollars in repairs.
A broken marriage, a broken morale or a broken spirit — these things are beyond human repair and can only be restored by the loving kindness of the Savior.
So if God can heal my broken heart, why hasn’t he done it yet? And if he hasn’t healed me yet, what is my assurance that God wants me to be healed?
The first question can only be answered through time and through faith, believing that God will restore at the proper time with the proper means and that He is able to do so. Our assurance that God will heal is found in the Bible. Here are three simple truths that the Bible reveals about God and your inevitable healing revival.
God wants to heal you
It is God’s desire to heal His people, and He will heal those who put their trust in Him in due time. The loving nature of God cannot keep Him from bringing forth healing to the heart and to the soul. Psalm 147:3 says “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
The only question is are we allowing God’s love to enter our hearts and do a mighty work in us? Do you want to get healed? This was the same question Jesus asked the leper in John 5:6 and it’s the same question he asks us today.
God is near
When we are hurt, it often feels like God is not by our side, but the scripture assures that God is there most especially when we are hurt. Psalm 34:18 tells us “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” When our hearts are breaking and all hope seems lost, that moment, God is by your side and bringing comfort, rest and restoration in a way that you have never experienced before.
God paid for your restoration
What is our greatest assurance that God will heal us? It’s not because we’ve worked for it, but because Jesus has already paid the ultimate price for your full healing and restoration. Our assurance of healing is not our works, not our situation, but it is rather the cross that brings assurance of our healing. 1 Peter 2:24 says “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”