Nurturing the Soil

No, we're not talking about spring planting...yet!...but as we remember St. Thomas Aquinas today, it seems appropriate to see what we can do to make the soil of our souls more welcoming to the seed of God's Word.  In today's Gospel, Jesus describes the seed falling on the path where the birds ate it up; other fell on rocky ground where the lack of soil caused the shoots to wither in the hot sun; some fell among thorns and were choked to death without producing grain; finally, some fell on rich ground and produced a huge harvest. (cf. Mk 4: 1-8).  Thomas spent his life studying, pondering, teaching and writing about the Seed, the Word of God, and did his best to prepare souls to receive it.  Seeds don't flourish without tilling, watering and weeding.  So too must the soul be stirred by study, watered with love-in-action and purged of what prevents it from doing both. We listen prayerfully and reflectively to the Word; we share our thoughts about it with others, and we live it. In so doing, we provide the rich soil that will bring forth the hundred fold harvest.  This prayer composed by St. Thomas will help and serves as a guide for Catholic Schools as they celebrate their unique mission this week:

Creator of all things, true source of light and wisdom, origin of all being, graciously let a ray of your brilliance penetrate the darkness of my understanding. Take from me the double darkness in which I have been born—an obscurity of sin and ignorance. Give me a keen understanding, a retentive memory, and the ability to grasp things correctly and fundamentally. Grant me the talent of being exact in my explanations and the ability to express myself with thoroughness and charm. Point out the beginning, direct the progress, and help in the completion. I ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. St. Thomas Aquinas Bro. Rene