SOIL FOR THE KINGDOM



One day, the pastor of a rural church spotted a small boy he didn’t recognize playing alone in the field behind the church.
“Do you live nearby?” the pastor asked.
“Down the street,” said the boy. “They sent me here to live with my uncle.”
“Where is your father?”
“He went to prison last week.”
“Where is your mother?”
“She ran away.”
“Do you have a sister?”
“She is in jail.”
“Is there anyone else?”
“"Yeah, my brother.”
Where is he?”
“He’s at Harvard University.”
“Well, at least one member of your family is doing well. What is he studying?
“Nothing." They’re studying him.”

Be Fertile and Fruitful

I was away from the parish for the last two weekends. I took ten days of vacation and went to Paris, France. Sitting on the airplane ready to take off, never knew what would happen, and I always wanted to be prepared. So I said the act of contrition and a few prayers. I also quietly said the prayer of absolution for everyone on the airplane in case something happened.

On the way to Paris, I was thinking about my life. I am 51 years old and have been a priest for 19 years. I can retire at 70 or must retire at 75. So I give myself 25 more years. What do I want to do with my life for the next 25 years? This question stays with me and I continue to ponder and make choices for my life every day.

I believe that God sent me into the world. His will for me is clear. Isaiah said, “Like the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats.” God wants me to be fertile and fruitful. When I return to God, what kind of person will I present myself to God in His Kingdom?

Types of Soil

The Kingdom of God was the main emphasis of Jesus’ message. But defining precisely what the Kingdom was is not easy. Even Jesus was often elusive about it. He did not speak in absolutes, but in parables. In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus compared the Kingdom to a sower going out and sowing seed. Jesus is not worried about the character of the Sower. The Sower is God. The Sower is perfect. So is the seed. He emphasized the soil.

The various types of soil represent us--you and me. We are the ground for the seed of the Gospel. We can be a path, a rocky ground, an area of thorn bush, or a good soil. The responsibility is upon you and me, the receiver to respond.”

Jesus is expecting his followers to be good soil, fully participating in the Kingdom of God. So the questions are: What is the state of our hearts toward Jesus? How receptive are we to Jesus and to his message? How involved are we in the Kingdom of God?

Good Soil for the Kingdom

When I was in Paris, I met my cousin’s sister in law who was visiting France with her 9 years old son. The boy got kidney infection and became seriously ill in France. So the French government wants to keep him there to give him treatment. The mother is also allowed to stay to take care of the boy. The government provides free medical care for the boy. They are also receiving housing assistance. My cousin told me that was French government’s policy. The boy got sick in France; so the French government is taking responsibility to provide medical care for him regardless who he is or where he comes from. I was so impressed with the social policy of the French government.

When I returned to Katy, TX, I read the Houston Chronicle again. I looked up for Dear Abby and found a wonderful article.

Dear Abby:
On April 11th you asked what your readers think is right with American society. I’ll bet you were inundated with responses to that question, and I hope you allow me to be one of those who answer it.

Here in Orange County, Calif., there are more than 5,000 volunteer organizations, supporting everything from the arts to zoos. Thousands of people give their time and money to help others and provide benefits to their community. And this is just one American county. If we counted the number of active volunteers in America doing good works, I’m sure the number would be in the millions. That is just one of the things that we’re doing right. (Diane J., Laguna Niguel, Calif.)

I was impressed with the French socialist approach. The government is taking good care of its people. Here in America, I am impressed with our Capitalist approach as well. In our American capitalist society, everyone is encouraged to invest and be productive in life. We are taking of ourselves, and out of personal generosity and charity, we are taking care of others. If every citizen is good, the whole nation will be good. If every citizen is a good soil, the whole nation will be good ground for growth.

It is the same in our parish. If every member of the parish is a good soil, the whole parish will be a good field with rich soil for the Kingdom of God.

I love gardening. I have a beautiful garden in the back of the house. But when I returned from my vacation, the garden was still there; howerver, the melons and tomatoes were rotten, cucumbers turned yellows, vegetables overgrown and became too matured to eat. Weeds grew everywhere. Monday is my day off; and I am planning to spend the day to clean up my garden and make it nice again.

Our parish is also like a garden. We have to take good care of it. If we neglect the parish, it will not be a good soil for the kingdom.

If you can do one thing for St. Bartholomew, what would you do? We have a beautiful church building because many people have contributed to build it. We have beautiful stained glass windows because many families have paid for them. We cannot stay where we are. Our parish is growing. We have to continue to take care of it. We have to continue to make the parish a good soil for the Kingdom of God.


Rev. John Kha Tran