A Tilled Heart

A voice I did not know said to me:

I freed your shoulder from the burden;

Your hands were freed from the load.

You called in distress and I saved you.

(see Psalm 81:6~8)

I listened to and read the parable of the Sower from a very personal view today. I have heard this parable many times, but never really applied it to my own life in a very deep way. I have always listened to it or read it looking to see which of the different types of soil I might be, always hoping of course that I am the rich and fertile soil.
The truth is I have been all three kinds, and while I do believe I am a bit richer these days, that is all God's grace.
He too wants me to be the rich and fertile soil that will receive His Word and allow it to grow deep roots.
In order for this to happen, I have to allow my heart to be tilled. Just like the ground needs to be tilled so that seeds will take root and grow, my heart needs the same thing.
The tilling of my heart comes from an encounter with Christ. God the Father puts His hand to the plow of His Son, the Word made Flesh, who comes and touches me in the deepest recesses of my heart where the seeds of His love and mercy can grow and bear Him fruit that will last. This is not a one time event; it is why conversion is a continuous, life long process. My heart constantly needs to be tilled and turned so that it does not grow hard and dry.
God is always willing to do this, I just need to allow Him in asking Him to till and soften those parts of my heart that still remain hard and dry.
There are many ways to let God in. I can do it through daily prayer, reading and meditating on Sacred Scripture, or in spending time with Him before the Blessed Sacrament, but perhaps the best way is through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. At Mass I allow Him to till my heart with His Word in Scripture and it is nourished with the Living Water in His Body and Blood in Holy Communion.
The tilling and pruning the Divine Gardener wishes to do is often painful and laborious, but it can and does bear beautiful fruit in hearts that can better love God and each other.

Ron DiCiani's The Sower

Prayer
Heavenly Father,
I allow You to enter my heart with Your Word today. I will accept Jesus there to nourish me with His Body and Blood. He is the Living Water who will bring life to the seeds You have planted.
Continue to till my hardened heart so that I may bear You fruit that will last.
Amen.