GENEROSITY OF HEART
“But as for the ones
who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.” (LK 8:15)
These words complete the parable of the sower and the
seed. The seed is the Word of God and
for some hearers the word never gets a chance to develop. For others the world has a stronger pull and
the Word fades from their hearts. Jesus
praises those who hear the Word and embrace it with a generous heart.
It’s easy to spot someone with a generous heart. These are the people who reach out to welcome,
to greet or to help instinctively. A
generous heart described my father perfectly.
It comes as no surprise that he was a fireman. He evidenced all the traits of first
responders. As to his faith, I’ve always
described him as a happy Catholic. He
embraced the Word with a generous heart just as Jesus described. He grieved over the fact that none of his 6
siblings were practicing their faith and his visits to them periodically to try
to convince them to return met with no success.
But his perseverance was a wonderful example to me.
The greatest gift anyone can give another is knowledge of
Jesus. For most people talk of Jesus
never happens or only with those who share the knowledge. That is safe and non-threatening but it is
not what Jesus meant when he spoke of the perseverance of a generous
heart. Those of us who live our lives in
and for Christ know the strength we take from this relationship and that is
what we ought to share with others. All
the Apostles were evangelizers and their success is probably unmatched in
history. They could never have done it
unless their hearts were open and generous and they persevered despite the often-powerful
resistance they met.
Many people have the wrong idea of God and how God works in
our lives. It’s up to those who trust in
God, who recognize that God is ever near and that the Spirit guides and
inspires, to convey that in the clearest way.
It’s a joyful thing to know God and it should be reflected in our
generous and open hearts.
Easter is nearly upon us and that day of unparalleled joy
should motivate us to bravely speak his name and share his message.
Blessings,
Carol Lemelin OPA
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