1.02 MT 13:03.23
Here is the spiritual meaning behind the Parable of the Sower taught by Jesus to his disciples who were permitted to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven.
“Once there was a man who went out to sow grain. As he scattered the seeds in the field, some of them fell along the path, and the birds came and ate them.”
The man is the Lord, the field, the people and the seeds, the divine teachings. Those in the beginning stages of their spiritual development hear his message but are incapable of understanding it. Young in spirit age, grossly ignorant and lacking experience, they don’t know enough to form a considered opinion. Their consciousness is still in the early formative stage. Thoroughly steeped in materiality and entranced by the things in the world, they are unable to see beyond to the more spiritual realms, much less, they are unable to appreciate the spiritual teachings. They still have so much to learn and do in the physical worlds. They should listen more to learn more. And they should increasingly apply what little they understand and can accept of the divine principles in their life.
“Some of the seeds fell on rocky ground where there was little soil. The seeds soon sprouted, because the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up, it scorched the young plants; and because the roots had not grown deep enough, the plants soon dried up.”
Those who have gone a little forward in their development hear the message and receive it gladly because they are already aware to some extent that the spiritual is superior to the material. However, when the accompanying necessary troubles, trials and persecutions — the hard lessons intended by God to teach them and strengthen them — are sent their way, they give up at once. Because of their past frustrations and difficulties, they lack the strong conviction they need to persist and stay on the Path. As they persevere more, they will succeed in overcoming. And their growing faith will enable them to carry on forward until they finally succeed in the end.
“Some of the seeds fell among thorn bushes which grew up and choked the plants.”
Those who are very much preoccupied with worldly concerns and so easily succumb to fleshly temptations have yet to fully satisfy these lower desires. As yet overly concerned with their selves, they are unable to give full expression to the divine principles in their life. Motivated purely by profit and self-satisfaction, they perform no really good service to anyone and thus fail miserably in the fulfillment of their duties towards God. However in time, like little children eventually tiring of their toys, they too will come to realize that Earthly treasures are far inferior compared to the true spiritual riches waiting for them in Heaven. And eventually, inevitably, they will turn and change the direction of their pursuits.
“But some seeds fell on good soil and produced a good crop, some brought in a hundredfold, some sixty and others thirty.” And Jesus concluded: “Those who want to learn should listen.”
Those who listen to the message and understand it strive to love and serve their brothers, more and more. They feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty: they take in strangers and clothe them; they help the sick to get well and visit and comfort those in prison. They are the only ones, for now, who are on course and are proving by their deeds, everyday, that they merit the right to enter into the life of peace, happiness and well-being that will last for all eternity.
Now, we should perhaps ask ourselves to which of these groups we belong. If we are honest, we will come to realize where we are presently situated and, more importantly, what we need to do still in order to get to where we really want to go. But no matter. Speedy or slow, perilous or less hazardous, difficult or excruciatingly painful the journey, regardless, our eventual triumphal ascension to our true Heavenly home is preordained.
From: John 16: 12-13: The teachings of Jesus Christ clarified and made plain
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