Preparation

It all begins with the right attitude. The Gospel, which is Jesus' life entirely, is not always accepted as it should be. The parable which reflects this best is that of the Sower:
File:Representation of the Sower's parable.JPEGOn that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirty-fold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.” (Mt 13:1-9)
Jesus later explains the parable to his disciples:
The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirty-fold.” (Mt 13:19-23)
This parable is worth much contemplation and prayer. It shows that not everyone who receives the good news of Christ is able to benefit from it. We have to go through each of these gospel-rejecting scenarios carefully, making sure that we don't reflect any of them. When Christ comes to us, we must be the "rich soil."

There are many interpretations on how this parable plays out in the current culture, here's my take on it:

Seed sown on the path: People are massively distracted these days. Deep down, everyone wants to know God, wants to seek God, but this culture doesn't facilitate the conditions necessary to make this desire come about. Television, internet, car radio, busy schedules.. these all take from that reflective time we need in order to fully realize our hunger for God. To make matters worse, God's vast creation, which helps us reflect on him, is for the most part hidden from us. Instead of seeing beautiful expanses of fields, ocean, and forests, we see walls, fences, buildings and traffic. This takes much from our ability to slow down, to feel or experience God's presence. We need to conquer these obstacles by making the necessary time to be with God. One must learn to find the quiet moments in his or her day, and spend these moments in silence or prayer with God.

Seed sown on rocky ground: This is an example of people who love the idea of Jesus and salvation, but lack commitment and fortitude. When their life of faith gets tough, they simply fold. Maybe they're too attached to this life (vs. eternal life). Maybe they lack trust in the Lord and all the blessings he can bring. Maybe it's because people like to base their actions on feelings and emotions instead of their will. For example, the Church teaches us that "prayer is a battle," that it's not always pleasurable or easy to do. So because it doesn't "feel good" or is "uncomfortable," people just stopping doing it! The Christian not only needs to receive the Gospel, but also make a firm act of the will to pursue it fully.

Seed sown among thorns: This is all too common in our culture. We are overly concerned with so many things in life when we really should only be concerned with "one thing" - that is "doing the will of God." One must ask the question, "Can God, the almighty one who created everything ex nihilo (out of nothing), take care of me and my family?" The answer is stated in the question.

A scripture passage that regularly helps me in this area is this one from the Sermon on the Mount. Here are some highlights:
...You cannot serve God and money... do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ... your heavenly Father knows that you need [these]. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you ... do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble (sampled from Mt 6:24-34).
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A final passage I want to include pertains to a necessity for us to bear fruit in our lives. It clearly shows that bearing fruit is not optional!
File:Veneto 0036.jpgIn those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea [and] saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: 
“A voice of one crying out in the desert,
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.’” 
John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (Mt 3:1-12)
Ya... this passage is a little heavy, but presents the truth of the Gospel (i.e. see the parables Jesus gives using the metaphor of fruit). To be the "good soil", we must acknowledge both the immeasurable greatness of God (I am not worthy to carry his sandals) and our desperate need for him (repent.. they acknowledged their sins). When John the Baptist (and later Jesus) tells us "Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand," what he's saying is that infinite greatness is so near to you, do whatever it takes to not let it pass you by.

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