Saint Josemaria
Quotations from Saint Josemaria

Parable of the Sower

Tags: Defects, Gospel, Ascetical struggle
And when a great crowd came together and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it... Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved (Lk 8:4-5, 11-12).

Some hearts close themselves to the light of faith. Ideals of peace, reconciliation and brotherhood are widely accepted and proclaimed, but all too often the facts belie them. Some people are futilely bent on smothering God’s voice. To drown it out they use brute force or a method which is more subtle but perhaps more cruel because it drugs the spirit, indifference.
Christ is Passing By, 150


And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture... And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away (Lk 8:6 and 13).

You may perhaps have noticed…many people who call themselves Christians because they have been baptized and have received other sacraments, but then prove to be disloyal and deceitful, insincere and proud, and... they fail to achieve anything. They are like shooting stars, lighting up the sky for an instant and then falling away to nothing.
If we accept the responsibility of being children of God, we will realize that God wants us to be very human. Our heads should indeed be touching heaven, but our feet should be firmly on the ground. The price of living as Christians is not that of ceasing to be human or of abandoning the effort to acquire those virtues which some have even without knowing Christ. The price paid for each Christian is the redeeming Blood of Our Lord and he, I insist, wants us to be both very human and very divine, struggling each day to imitate him who is perfectus Deus, perfectus homo.
Friends of God, 75


And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it... And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature (Lk 8:7 and 14).

Do not be ashamed to discover in your heart the fomes peccati – the inclination to evil, which will be with you as long as you live, for nobody is free from this burden.
Do not be ashamed, for the all?powerful and merciful Lord has given us all the means we need for overcoming this inclination: the sacraments, a life of piety and sanctified work..
Persevere in using these means, ever ready to begin again and again without getting discouraged.
The Forge, 119


And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundred-fold... They are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience (Lk 8:8 and 15).

If we look around, if we take a look at the world, which we love because it is God’s handiwork, we will find that the parable holds true. The word of Jesus Christ is fruitful, it stirs many souls to dedication and fidelity. The life and conduct of those who serve God have changed history. Even many of those who do not know our Lord are motivated, perhaps unconsciously, by ideals which come from Christianity.
Christ is Passing By, 150