Being Fruitful

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!”

We can really understand today’s parable by considering these reflections. If my calculations are correct, today is the 924th straight day I have been doing these reflections. Over the two and half years since I started doing them, they have gone out to hundreds of thousands of people via YouTube, E-mail, Social Media, and, more recently, Television. These are, literally, hundreds of thousands of SEEDS that are being scattered all across the world. But not everyone will respond the same way. Let us, for deeper understanding, consider the reflection of a few days ago titled Look Ma, No Hands (ttps://youtu.be/YVpF2PSXN90). I had spoken about how we need to let go of everything and trust God. 

Not everybody would have read (or watched) the reflection when it appeared in their email (even though they might have subscribed to it). Not everybody would have watched it when it showed up in their WhatsApp. Not everybody would have viewed it when it was telecast on TV. Not everybody would have given it more than a glance when it popped up on Social Media (although they might have LIKED it!). These are, as Jesus says in the parable we are reflecting upon today, the seeds that fall on the path. The birds come and eat them before they even have a chance to germinate, much less grow and bear fruit. Gone with the wind.

Then, there would be those who would have read the reflection, and were sufficiently impressed with it to decide they were gonna trust God henceforth. So they would say, “I’m gonna start letting go of everything that holds me captive and just trust God. I’m gonna stop worrying and start reading the Bible. I’m gonna stop wasting my time on useless pursuits and spend some quality time in prayer.” And for a couple of weeks, they would actually do this. But then, some new TV serial would grab their attention, and they would spend all their time binge watching, picking up everything they had let go of, along with a few new things. Why? Because they are not rooted in Christ.

Then, there would be those who would have read the reflection, and thought how wonderful it would be to let go of the stuff they clung to. But then, they’d wonder, what would their friends think of them? Would they still be invited to parties if they were perceived as being “Holy Joes”? And who would visit them, if they changed their opulent and hedonistic lifestyle? And these, and other thoughts, would choke any further growth out of them, like thorns choking a growing plant. 

And, then, there would be those who would have read the reflection, and been inspired by it to start letting go, one thing at a time. As they let go, they would discover freedom, more and more each day, and soon start to fly spiritually. They would soon start living the abundant life that Jesus promised, bearing much fruit of love, joy, peace, and patience. As they became more like Christ, they would start drawing people to them, whom they would direct towards Christ. And they would discover they had become world changers. 

Most of you watching this fall into the last category, and I truly look forward to you bearing seed — a thirty, sixty, or even a hundredfold.

Watch a video of this reflection by Aneel Aranha here: https://youtu.be/XYDbVh9gmlw