The most dangerous character of Thorns in my life

 GOSPEL THOUGHTS

24th Week – Saturday

Gospel – Luke 8:4-15

First Reading I Cor 15:35-37, 42-49

The most dangerous character of Thorns in my life

Some seed fell among  thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it

1) The nature of the thorns

By its very nature thorns are dangerous. One can't either touch or hold it very easily 

The very moment one holds the thorns, it will prick into the flesh and it will create a wound in our body 

If the wound is not taken take, then it will create more pain and gradually it creats pus and the whole area gets infected with its prick 

People are scared to go near to the thorns.

Wherever there is a thorn plant nothing else grows underneath. It does not allow anything else to grow. On the other hand even if there is only one thorn plant it creates many plant in the area and it grows life wild grass. 

This is our normal understanding of the thorn plants and about the thorns.

2) Thorns and the sowers seed

In the parable of the sower, as the sower sowed the seed, some of it fell among the thorny bush, and it didn't allow the seed to grow. It chocked its growth. This may be because

The lack of space among the thorny bushes 

The roots of thorn plant didn't allow the roots of the seed to go deep

There wasn't space for the seed to come up, since there was already the thorn plant were there 

The strength of the thorn plants were more powerful than the seed

Seed was in its beginning stage. Thorns were already deep. So it bulldozed on the seed 

Finally the thorns choked the seed and its attempt to come up. But it could not succeed. It died. 

3) Thorns in the Human life

While explaining the parable of the sower Jesus points out three important thorns which affect the human life very much. So we need to be very careful about these thorns or we should not allow them to become thorns in our lives. They are following

A) Anxiety is equal to thorns

Anxiety in life is most dangerous thing. It really chokes our life, our dreams, our efforts, our commitment, our plans, our health and even our spiritual growth. 

The most dangerous thing of the anxiety is that, it affects all areas of life. There is no area which is untouched by the anxiety. 

Anxiety is a slow poison which kills our life gradually like that of thorns 

Many end their life because of anxiety and many loose their psychological balance because of the anxiety. 

So it is really a thorn or thorn in the flesh which affects continuously.

B) Riches is equal to thorns

Jesus also speaks about riches in the context of thorns. The real nature of the riches or the greed for riches will turn the riches just like a thorn in our life. 

Like the thorns which does not allow anything else to grow rather only it grows, so also the greed for riches does not allow any other values to grow in life but only the greed and riches grow. 

Riches are like thorns because such riches makes a person to prick others 

With his riches (thorns) he pricks the poor 

With his riches (thorns) he pricks the humility, generosity, sharing, caring, need of the other and so many other values. 

At times some people with this thorn (riches) prick the life of another person and destroy them 

Finally this thorn (riches) destroys the very life of the person who allows to grow it. 

C) Pleasures of Life is equal to Thorns

Once again Jesus tells us while explaining the parable of the sower that pleasures of life are equal to thorns 

The very nature of the pleasures to chock the very life of the person 

It chocks the spiritual life of the person 

It chocks the selfless life of the person 

It chocks the very dignity and respect towards the other person 

It chocks the need and necessity of God in life 

It chocks the other center attitude of the person 

It chocks the generosity of the person 

It chocks the normal life of the person 

Pleasures in life are really like the thorns and when one allows such thorns to grow it finally destroys His/her life. 

4) What about my life? Which thorns are found in my life?

Wherever there is soil, there is a possibility of coming up a thorny plant. If it is removed at the early stage, such place and soil can be used for growing the good seed which produces fruit. 

Wherever there is human life there is a possibility of coming up the thorns of anxiety, riches and pleasures of life. But if ones removes them from ones life, life becomes a very good soil for growing the good seed, which ultimately produces the fruit. 

5) What is the level of grow in my life?

First of all what is the growth of thorn plants in my life. The growth of anxiety, riches and pleasures of life 

Secondly what is the growth of the good seed in my life? 

Is it only in the initial stage? 

Is the growth of the seed is chocked by the thorns in my life? 

Am I aware that there are some thorns which are really chocking the growth of the seed? 

Am I comfortable with the growth of the seed or thorns 

God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones.

Fr Maxim D’Souza

Jeppu Seminary

Mangalore