DO NOT GIVE UP, BE CONSISTENT IN YOUR EFFORT (Hebrews 10:11-18/Psalm 110:1-4/Mark 4:1-20)

DO NOT GIVE UP, BE CONSISTENT IN YOUR EFFORT
(Homily for Wednesday 30 January, 2019)

The parable of the sower is one of the popular parables of our Lord Jesus Christ that explains in details different categories of people that hear the word of God every day and their attitudes toward the Word.

Our reflection today is not to repeat the full explanation that Christ offered in this parable because it is self-explanatory and needs no further explanation. As you read the gospel once again just try to place yourself where you rightfully belong.
I would like us to examine briefly the fourth group of people who received the Word of God and accept it and eventually yielded a harvest of 30, 60 and 100 fold. Here lies the different efforts exhibited by those that received the same Word but yielded a different harvest.

Each according to his/her strength and the grace that is given to him/her. The fact remains that each of them produced something though not on equal grade. All of them did not produce only 30 neither did they yield 60 only nor 100 only but some 30, others 60 and some others 100. This implies that in our daily relationship with God, what He counts is an effort not necessarily the achievements or the 100% success we have gotten which is also good in itself.

In this parable, you see how Christ acknowledged the efforts of those that yielded 30 fold, that is the least of the three. He did not condemn them because they produced only 30. In the human calculation, those that made 30 fold may be the least but in the eyes of God, they are not. They may even be the same with those that made 60 and 100. Mind you, we are not trying to discourage excellence here rather we are trying to point out that the effort we make each day matters and counts before God no matter how little such is, if and only if we are sincere to that effort.

It may be 30, it may be 60 and it may equally be 100. But the question we have to answer is are we sincere and consistent in these efforts.The person who produced 30, are you sincere to it? Can you still do more? The same applies to the person that made 60! Again, we have the potentials to aspire higher in our relationship with God every day. Tell yourself that you can still make something better than the way you are today in your spiritual life. The person that made 30 has the potentiality to ascend to 60. The person that got 60 has the potentiality through the grace of God to hit at 100%. The person that has 100% already also has the potentiality not to relent in his/her dogged efforts, not to give the devil any breathing space to pull him/her down.

Just like a child that took the 3rd position at the end of the school year, the parents, first of all, acknowledged his effort and told him that there is still room for improvement, that he can still make it to 1st position.

Also, like the little girl that took the 1st position after praising her effort, the parents told her not relent in her effort of taking the 1st position. In our spiritual journey, we are not expected to relent or go on vacation because in the school of the devil there is neither vacation nor holidays. He goes about working to pull the people of God down, to confuse and distract them. To rest or go on spiritual vacation in our spiritual life is like taking a very big risk, it is like giving the devil the chance to strike.

As St Peter admonishes us to be vigilant because our enemy the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion looking for someone to eat, Peter tells us that we should stand up to him strong in faith (I Peter 5:8-9).

So dear brothers and sisters, let us keep making effort.
The time to begin your effort is now don't put it off till tomorrow. Do not be weighed down by those who are already swimming in the ocean of 100% effort. Remember that the journey of 1000 miles begins with just a step! Your 1% effort counts before God, and through His grace, you can move from 1 to 2, 30, 60 and eventually 100. So never give up or lose hope!

Let Us Pray: Lord Jesus, I want to bear fruits for you, give me the grace to continue to make daily committed efforts that will help me to succeed. Amen.