THE WEEK OF SEXAGESIMA - WEDNESDAY

LESSON: MARK 10:17-27

As for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. Luke 8:14

The third group are those who hear the Word and understand it, but still fall out on the other side, namely, among the pleasures and comforts of this life so that they, too, achieve nothing with the Word. This is also a very large number.

Although they do not introduce heresy like the first group, but always retain the Word unalloyed and pure and are not assailed on the left like the second group with opposition and persecution, they still fall away on the right. Their undoing is that they have peace and good times. They do not really give themselves to the Word in all earnestness but become lazy. They immerse themselves in cares, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature.

They resemble the seed that fell among the thorns. Although there is no rock there but good earth, no hard-packed path but land ploughed deep enough, the thorns still prevent the seed from coming up, or they choke it.

These people have all that will serve them for salvation in the Word, but they do not make use of it; they rot away in this life, in the flesh. To this number belong those who hear the Word but never tame the flesh. They know what is right, but do not act accordingly. “Their fruit does not mature.”

SL.XI.518,6
AE 76,333

PRAYER: Forgive us, O Lord, all the wasted opportunities that we miss amidst the many pressures and tensions of our daily lives. Grant us grace both to hear your Word with open hearts and, with a ready will, act in accordance with it. Amen.