Luke 8:11,15 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God...but as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in a honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.”

If you live in Colorado with me we are not quite ready to begin planting gardens.

This parable of seeds being sown in different soils is one of my favorite.  It reminds me that we each have some of the different kinds of soil in us.  The hardened path does not accept any seed and the birds come and eat it.  The rocky soil accepts the seed but does not have moisture so the seeds wither and die.  The thorny soil accepts the seed but eventually the weeds choke out the seedlings that were growing and again there is no fruit to be had.

We have hardened parts of our hearts; we have rocks and thorns as well.  The good news is that we have good soil and a master gardener waiting to till and nurture the rest of the soil to make it good for receiving and growing seeds.

As we reflect on our hearts during this season of Lent, let us each take time to review what kinds of soil we have within us.  Take time to ask the Lord, the master gardener, to till the soil and make it good soil so we can be fruitful in this day.

Lord,

Thank you for sunshine and rain, thank you for snow and wind and thank you that spring is just around the corner.  Help us search our hearts for hardness, for rocks and for weeds.  Prepare us as good soil so that when we receive the seeds of your holy word that we hold it fast in our good hearts and bear fruit as you call us to.  Amen.