“Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it” (Mt 13:7).

God wants all of us to be in relationship with him. His love for us in unconditional. He is willing to risk that we will say, “No” to his invitation of relationship rather than force us to love him, which is not love at all. God also wants the best for us, he knows the deepest desires of our heart beyond our even knowing for he sees the fullness of time, while we only see and experience a small part.

Jesus came to share the seed of his Father’s word through the teachings, healings, and exorcisms that he offered. We are recipients of each through the deposit of faith passed on generation after generation. One area that prevents us from allowing his seeds to germinate and bear fruit in our lives is when we allow the diversions, distractions, anxieties and worries to fill our mind such that they choke out the good that Jesus seeks to have develop within us.

On a physiological level, what we pay attention to fires neurons in our brains that form neural pathways. Each time we are attentive a new pathway is formed. After time, this is how our habits form and why after we do something consistently and are disciplined, the act is easier to do. It is also why a habit is hard to change in the beginning because we need to rewire those pathways.

To prevent the growth of our spiritual life from being choked out we need to practice each day stillness and focusing on God’s word. As we consistently sit in the same place each day, spend some time breathing and then focusing on reading a passage of scripture, praying, and/or pondering what God may be sharing with us, for that time we do so, we are to focus on Jesus alone. As thoughts and diversions to the contrary arise, we just bring ourselves back to Jesus and God’s word.

In time, with consistent, daily practice, we will begin to feel safe, we will experience God’s love and presence, his insights and guidance, we will heal, we will rewire our neural pathways such that it becomes easier to pray than not to pray. The thorns lose their sting, the distractions, temptations, and diversions lose their power as we begin to recognize God’s voice and follow his guidance.

Turning around unhealthy or sinful habits is not easy. When we decide to make time to spend time with God each day, while together we are attentive to only to him for that time we set aside and return to him as soon as we notice we are distracted, his seed with grow within us. Even when we feel like nothing is happening, God is happening, and we are growing and maturing.

Photo: Rooted and abiding in God’s love, we can grow free of that which seeks to choke us. Rosary walk Vero Beach, FL.

Link for the Mass readings for Wednesday, July 24, 2024