How Does Your Garden Grow?

Rev. John H. Hampsch, C.M.F | 08/07/2017

An executive officer at Standard Oil Company, during his daily Bible reading, was struck by the passage of Exodus 2:3, where it states that the baby Moses was set afloat in the Nile in a papyrus basket waterproofed with tar and pitch. the officer knew that where tar or pitch oozed from the ground there must be oil, so he sent a geologist to explore the area, and the resultant oil discovery enabled Egypt to become a major oil-producing nation.

The Bible reveals, both explicitly and implicitly, boundless information about material things, from oil deposit locations to hygiene principles and nutrition. But more importantly, it reveals spiritual information, along with inspiration and encouragement, This deep soul-enrichment is enjoyed by devout souls. But why do some respond only momentarily to Scripture readings? And why are others turned off by it altogether?

The answer lies in the parable of the sower, with the four kinds of "soil" in which God's word is sown (see Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8). First, there is the hard-packed footpath where unrooted seed is snatched away the the devil; this speaks of a heart hardened by pride or other sin. The second type of soil, sub-layered with shale rock causing the shallow-rooted word to wither, is like the heart that is looking for a subjective, "feel-good" religion with no strings attached. The third type of soil, the soil overgrown with nettles, is like the soul choked with pleasures and money worries. It is only the fourth type of soil - the truly good, fertile soil - that produces soul-enriching fruit.

Answer the question honestly: Which type are you?

This excerpt is from the book One-Minute Meditations for Busy People, by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/video recordings can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408 or www.Catholicbooks.net

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About the Author

Rev. John H. Hampsch, C.M.F

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The Rev. John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., ordained as a Catholic priest in 1952, is a member of the Claretian Missionaries, and is founder and director of the Claretian Teaching Ministry. Listed in Who’s Who in Religion in America, he has served as parish priest, seminary professor and rector, college professor, lecturer, magazine writer, newspaper columnist, editor, retreat master, hospital chaplain, prison chaplain, campus chaplain, Cursillo director and director of suicide prevention programs in Texas and California.

He earned degrees in philosophy from Loyola-Marymount University in Los Angeles and from Notre Dame University, with postgraduate work at the University of Southern California and the Dominican House of Studies in River Forest, Illinois, in ascetical and mystical theology.

Find his many books and audio/visual recordings at www.Catholicbooks.net