21st Sunday after Pentecost
Galatians 1:11-19; Luke 8:5-15
The Lord Jesus Christ, while physically on earth, sowed the seeds of God’s teaching of salvation. Those who believed in His Word, whether hearing it directly from Him or from His followers-- these people found salvation. The Lord clearly stated that “The seed is the Word of God”. (Luke 8:11)
We often ask ourselves: Why is it that, despite the fact that God’s Word, that “seed,” has been sown for almost two thousand years, and there have been many sowers, there are still many wicked deeds in the world, and many people profane the image of God with their actions?
Jesus Christ helps us understand, in the parable read today, that the reason for the discouraging results of the preaching of God’s Word is the inappropriate soil of human hearts, that is — the improper attitude, the careless acceptance by people of God’s Word.
First of all, it must be said that not all formally baptized Christians listen to the Word of God. Many people rarely listen to the Gospel sermon; some grow up like weeds and never listen or read The Gospel of Christ. But even those who do listen do not open the doors of their hearts for Christ to dwell in them, reside, and guide their actions. The Lord does not forcibly enter anyone; through Apostle John the Theologian, Christ says:
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him...” (Revelation 3:20).
And Christ affirmed that some people, although they hear it, yet their thoughts are distant; they do not perceive the seeds of God's teaching. Those seeds are neither accepted nor sprout in their hearts or consciousness.
The words of the Gospel sermon mostly fall somewhere beside them— “by the wayside”, and what is perceived by them is then “taken away by the devil,” for such people evidently come not to partake in God's Word but for entertainment. They do not experience or delve into Sacramental Mystery. With an empty soul they come to church; with emptiness they leave as well. Such Christians attend church by tradition, “for appearance’s sake”.
There are Christians who do love to listen to the Word of God, and sometimes they even praise the preacher. They may also love our rituals and songs. They can even pay their membership dues diligently, but they are Christians only for a time — as long as professing this Christian faith is respected. However, when believers of other faiths or atheists come to power, when there is a test of their faith, they depart and renounce Christ. (Luke 8:13)
Christ further explains the parable by saying:
“Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.” (Luke 8:14)
We know such Christians: while they worked honestly and were in need, and relied on support from people — they were in the Church and worked for the Church. But when they became wealthy and acquired properties — they no longer have time for God or the Church or those people with whom they had relationships. Such people are overgrown by the corpulence of their wealth, and their Christianity seems to have evaporated. The further we go, the more we observe such Christians; worldly delights consume them — they don't know how to be both wealthy and pious; thus their Christianity was superficial, shallow.
But fortunately, there are still other Christians, those who accept the Word of God, the evangelical teaching of Christ, deeply into their consciousness; based on that teaching of Christ, they not only pray but also try to conduct their daily lives. They sincerely raise their children in that faith. They never betray Christ, and the fruits of faith “they bring forth…with patience” (Luke 8:15).
Such Christians not only do not betray Christ, they also do not betray their people; they do not renounce their parents, they do not renounce the language of their people. Thanks to the fact that there are people who have the good ground of their hearts, the Church of Christ is invincible, and “the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it”. (Matthew 16:18)
Amen.
Very Rev. Fr. Taras Slavchenko
Taras Slavchenko was born on March 8, 1918 in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region in Ukraine. After graduating from school and the Pedagogical College, he entered the language and literature faculty of the Scientific Pedagogical Institute. Having successfully completed it in 1938, he served as a teacher in a secondary school.
