ACC ~ Luke 8 v11 - 15
THE DEVIL SNATCHES GOOD SEED OFF THE PATH
CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The seed is the Word of God. Those on the way are they who have heard. Afterwards, the devil comes and takes away the Word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved. We see in a moment that the hardness of the ground causes the seed on the pathways to be snatched away. A pathway always is hard and untilled, because it is exposed to every one’s feet. It does not admit any seed into it, but it lies rather upon the surface, ready for any birds that will to snatch it away. All whose minds are hard and unyielding, and so to speak, pressed together, do not receive the divine seed. The divine and sacred admonition does not find an entrance into them. They do not accept the words that would produce in them the fear of God and by means of which they could bring forth as fruits the glories of virtue. They have made themselves a beaten and trampled pathway for unclean demons, yes, for Satan himself, such as never can bear holy fruit. Let those who are awake, whose heart is sterile and unfruitful, open your mind, receive the sacred seed, be like productive and well-tilled soil, bring forth to God the fruits that will raise you to an incorruptible life. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 41. [1]
[1] CGSL 178**.
THE DEVIL REMOVES THE WORD OF CATECHESIS
SYMEON THE NEW THEOLOGIAN: When you come out of the church, do not begin to be distracted toward empty and useless matters, lest the devil come and find you occupied with them. It is like when a crow finds on the plain a grain of wheat, before it has been covered with earth, and picks it up and flies off. The devil removes the memory of these words of catechetical lectures from your hearts, [1] and you find yourselves empty and deprived of beneficial teaching. DISCOURSE 30.1. [2]
[1] Cf. Mt 13:19.
[2] SNTD 318*.
THE UNGRATEFUL SOUL A PUBLIC HIGHWAY FOR EVIL
EPHREM THE SYRIAN: “For it fell on the edge of the path.” [1] This is an image of the ungrateful soul, like the one who received one talent despised the goodness of him who gave it. [2] Because this ground was tardy in receiving its seed, it became a public highway for all evil. Consequently there was no place in its ground for the Teacher to penetrate into it like a laborer, break up its hardness and sow his seed there. The Lord described the evil one in the imagery of a bird who snatches it away. [3] He made known that the evil one does not forcefully snatch away from the heart the teaching entrusted to it. In the parable’s imagery, he revealed the voice of the gospel standing at the door of the ears like the grain of wheat on the surface of the ground that has not hidden in its womb the seed which fell upon it. The birds were not permitted to penetrate the earth in search of the seed that the earth hid under its wings. COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 11.13. [4]
[1] Mt 13:19.
[2] Mt 25:24-30.
[3] Mk 4:4, 15.
[4] ECTD 182*.
PERSECUTION CAUSES CONFUSION AND LOSS OF FAITH
CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Let us consider those others of whom Christ said, “And those upon the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, and they have no root. These believe for a while and in time of temptation depart away.” There are men whose faith has not been proved. They depend simply on words and do not apply their minds to examining the mystery. Their piety is sapless and without root. When they enter the churches, they feel pleasure often in seeing so many assembled. They joyfully receive instruction in the mysteries from him whose business it is to teach and laud him with praises. They do this without discretion or judgment, but with unpurified wills. When they go out of the churches, at once they forget the sacred doctrines and go about in their customary course, not having stored up within themselves any thing for their future benefit. If the affairs of Christians go on peacefully and no trial disturbs them, even then they scarcely maintain the faith, and that, so to speak, in a confused and tottering state. When persecution troubles them and the enemies of the truth attack the churches of the Savior, their heart does not love the battle, and their mind throws away the shield and flees. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 41. [1]
[1] CGSL 178-79**.
A HARD WORD FINDS NO PLACE ON HARD GROUND
EPHREM THE SYRIAN: “That which fell on the rock …” [1] The good Lord revealed his mercy. Although the hardness of the ground was not cultivated, he did not withhold its seed from it. This ground represents those who turn away from his teaching like those who said, “This word is hard; who can listen to it?” [2] It is like Judas, who heard his word and flourished through his signs but was without fruit in the moment of testing. COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 11.14. [3]
[1] Mt 13:20.
[2] Jn 6:60.
[3] ECTD 182**.
WORLDLY CARES CHOKE THE SEED
CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: “Those that fell among the thorns are they who have heard, and go, and are choked by cares and wealth and pleasures of the world, and yield no fruit.” The Savior scatters the seed that acquired a firm hold in the souls that received it. It already shot up and just began to be visible when worldly cares choke it and it dries up, being overgrown by empty occupations. The prophet Jeremiah said, “It becomes a handful, that can produce no meal.” [1] In these things, we must be like skillful farmers who patiently cleared away the thorns and uprooted whatever is hurtful, and then we scatter the seed in clean furrows. One can say with confidence that doubtless “they will come with joy, bearing their sheaves.” [2] If a person scatters seed in ground that is fertile in thorns, fruitful in briars and densely covered with useless stubble, he sustains a double loss. First, he loses his seed, and second, his work. In order that the divine seed may blossom well in us, let us first cast out of the mind worldly cares and the unprofitable anxiety which makes us seek to be rich. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 41. [3]
[1] Hos 8:7.
[2] Ps 126:6 (125:6 LXX).
[3] CGSL 80**.
ALMS AND FAITH INSTEAD OF RICHES
PASCHASIUS OF DUMIUM: Alms and faith must not leave you. Remember that every day death is near and act as if the tomb already enclosed you. Do not care for this world, since anxiety for the world and the desire for riches are thorns that choke the good seed. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS OF THE GREEK FATHERS 43.2. [1]
[1] FC 62:165-66**.
GOOD SEED YIELDS GOOD FRUIT IN DEGREES
CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: This good seed is worthy of admiration. Rich and well-productive land brings forth fruit a hundredfold. They say that the best soils sometimes under cultivation produce a hundredfold, so this is a mark of every fertile and productive spot. One of the holy prophets said from the mouth of God, “And all nations shall congratulate you, because you are a desirable land.” [1] When the divine word falls upon a pure mind skillful in cleansing itself from things hurtful, it fixes its root deeply and shoots up like an ear of corn. It brings its fruit to perfection being strong in blade and beautifully flowered. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 41. [2]
[1] Mal 3:12.
[2] CGSL 180**.
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