(Is.55:10-11; Ps.65:10-14,Lk.8:8; Rom.8:18-23; Mt.13:1-23) "The seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit." Comes the Word of God. To our eyes, to our ears. A seed sown within our hearts. May it find rich soil in which to grow, that we might know "the redemption of our bodies." "The rain and the snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth… so shall [God's] word be that goes forth from [His] mouth." For indeed it makes the earth "fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats": it nourishes the expectant soul and provides seed for its increased growth. All is given life by the Word of God. What Isaiah prophesies, David sings – "You prepared the land: drenching its furrows, breaking up its clods, softening it with showers, blessing its yield." And by this grace which falls from heaven, consuming the manna which is its fruit, His children know the "bounty" of the Lord; for His "paths overflow with a rich harvest." Hardly can we contain the blessings of "the valleys blanketed with grain." Jesus has come. The Lord has "visited the land and watered it." The grace of God is in our midst in heavenly flesh and blood. And we are left dumb; for the Word of God indeed silences our tongue. What can we say as we see His fields coming to life? How can we speak of the beauty of a land bathed in light? Deeply into our souls His words do fall, and we awaken, we arise as His children of light, beginning now to understand the blessing at our fingertips, the redemption we do find in the Body and Blood of Christ. And though we "groan within ourselves," we know these are the "labor pains" of growth. For in this cleansing rain purging our hearts we come to be "set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God." What a wonderful word we have from our Lord: "Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear." What a promise He makes to those who gaze upon that which the prophets longed to possess: "To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich." And so, what confidence we who are granted "knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" should have in His grace-filled Spirit; and what fruit we should thus bear, even to life everlasting. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Listen through the Music" from Thoroughfare, seventh album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, let your rain fall upon us that we might bear fruit in your Name; let us hear your Word and answer your call. YHWH, make us fertile and fruitful. Open our hearts to receive your Word; let it sink deep within us and grow by your grace. Your grace is as the rain which waters hearts set on your will. May we indeed receive your abundant gifts, O LORD, and yield a rich harvest in your Name. So blind are our eyes, dear LORD, so dull our hearts. We are deaf to your Word as we set our sights on the things of this world. The devil easily enters in and steals from us that which we neither have nor desire. But you come to us in your compassion to teach us, to open our ears to your Word that we might be as the untilled meadows, the fields no human hand has touched, which produce fruit in abundance by your grace. The first fruits of the Spirit we now have as a gift from you, LORD. Yet we await the fullness of your blessings; yet we groan in pain as still we need to grow in you. Set us free from all slavery to corruption that we might share in the glorious freedom of your children of light. May our fruit be worthy of your kingdom.