『[How Not to Miss God’s Voice] Day 26 – Let the Word Take Root and Grow Deep』のカバーアート

[How Not to Miss God’s Voice] Day 26 – Let the Word Take Root and Grow Deep

[How Not to Miss God’s Voice] Day 26 – Let the Word Take Root and Grow Deep

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 “As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.” (Matthew 13:20–21)Yesterday, we spoke about the “thorns” of worry. In addition to worry, the lure of riches and the attractions of the world are another kind of loud noise that can obscure and choke the Word of God. Jesus reminds us: “No one can serve two masters.” (Matthew 6:24) If we try to listen both to the world and to God, yet only choose what suits our own preferences, we will not be able to truly hear God—for His truth is not always pleasing to the ear. In the end, we must make a choice.Today, however, we consider another question: when we do listen, and even like what we hear, why does that initial inspiration not last? Jesus clearly describes this situation in the Parable of the Sower: “As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.” (Matthew 13:20–21)St. Thomas Aquinas explains that this “rocky ground” refers to a hardened heart into which the Word cannot penetrate deeply. A person may rejoice in God’s goodness and experience emotional highs, yet does not allow the Word to become the “primary root” of life. This is the shallow heart. Such a person readily receives the Word with outward enthusiasm, but lacks deep soil—that is, a consistent and committed daily life of discipleship. As a result, the faith remains purely emotional. Because there is no real and lasting relationship with God, when difficulties arise, faith quickly collapses.The challenge we face, then, is this: how can we make that initial joy endure? How do we break through the “rock” in our hearts so that roots may grow deeper?The answer is that we must take action. When we hear the Word of God and feel joy, that joy must move us to seek a deeper, more intimate relationship with Jesus. Let us learn from a few examples in the Gospel.Recall the Samaritans in the Gospel of John, chapter 4. At first, they believed in Jesus because of the joyful testimony of the Samaritan woman at the well. But they did not remain at the level of emotional response. “When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days.” (John 4:40) St. Augustine points out that they first came to know Christ through the testimony of another, but it was only when Jesus stayed with them—through His actual presence—that their faith became firm and deeply rooted.The same spiritual hunger appears in the disciples on the road to Emmaus. As Jesus explained the Scriptures to them, their hearts were burning with joy. But when Jesus walked ahead, as if to keep going, they took action: “They urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us…’” (Luke 24:29). They longed to hear more of His teaching and to experience His presence more deeply.Likewise, when John the Baptist directed Andrew and John to follow Jesus, they asked Him a simple yet profound question: “Teacher, where are you staying?” (John 1:38) Jesus replied, “Come, and you will see.” (John 1:39)In stark contrast stands the response of the Gerasenes. After Jesus drove the demons into the herd of pigs, they were filled with fear and “begged him to leave their region” (Matthew 8:28–34). They pushed God away.Where do we stand today? Honestly, modern life is extremely busy. We leave almost no space or time for God. We may hear an inspiring homily at Sunday Mass and feel a spark of joy, but by Monday morning, we leave Jesus at the church door. We do not invite Him into our homes, our work, or our struggles.If we want to continue hearing God’s voice and remain steadfast in times of trial, we must intentionally make space for Him. We cannot remain at the level of merely “hearing” a message—we must actively invite Jesus to dwell with us. We must say to Him: Lord, stay with me!Let us once again invite Jesus to remain with us and let His Word illuminate our lives:“As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.” (Matthew 13:20–21)ReflectionIs my faith overly dependent on emotional highs, like the “rocky ground” in the Parable of the Sower, where the word is “received with joy” immediately? What happens to my prayer life when that emotion fades?When I face difficulties or trials, do I tend to draw closer to God and His Word, or do I give up listening to Him? When I must choose between the values ...
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