A branch can’t bear fruit separated from the plant

“God has not called me to be successful; He has called me to be faithful.” - Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Gospel text (Lk 8,4-15):
When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another
journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable.
"A sower went out to sow his seed.
And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled,
and the birds of the sky ate it up.
Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew,
it withered for lack of moisture.
Some seed fell among thorns,
and the thorns grew with it and choked it.
And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew,
it produced fruit a hundredfold."
After saying this, he called out,
"Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear."

Then his disciples asked him
what the meaning of this parable might be.
He answered,
"Knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God
has been granted to you;
but to the rest, they are made known through parables
so that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand.

"This is the meaning of the parable.
The seed is the word of God.
Those on the path are the ones who have heard,
but the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts
that they may not believe and be saved.
Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear,
receive the word with joy, but they have no root;
they believe only for a time and fall away in time of temptation.
As for the seed that fell among thorns,
they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along,
they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life,
and they fail to produce mature fruit.
But as for the seed that fell on rich soil,
they are the ones who, when they have heard the word,
embrace it with a generous and good heart,
and bear fruit through perseverance."

In our faith, we have the tendency to take what we hear from Scripture and let it flow through our mind and then slowly let the words fade away. We will try to use the ideas and messages behind the Scripture in our lives for a little while, but eventually the concepts will pass through our minds as we move on in life. The key to keeping our faith is understanding that the words of the Scriptures are the words of God himself. When God speaks to us we need to open our hearts and let Him in. When we do that, we are able to persevere through life which allows us to lead successful and truly happy lives.

God’s words teach us the way we should lead our life. From the way we worship to the way we treat others, God’s words are the manual to helping us live life in a proper way. Sometimes we are tempted to take other’s advice on how to live, but we must remember to put no one in front of the Lord, our God. He is almighty and will show us the way to the gates of heaven. If we remember that, then our lives will be filled with joy and peace.