parableofthesower Archives • Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Midlands, U.K.

“The word of God, so divine, does not enter into them, and does not support them so as to be blessed with the joyful fruit of virtue. Such people are like the wayside trodden upon by the defiled spirits, and trampled upon by Satan himself. They therefore, do not bring forth any sanctified fruits because of their stubborn and hard hearts.” ~ St. Cyril the Great #dontbestubborn #donthardenyourheart #soilcanchange #wayside #parableofthesower #dailyreadings #coptic #orthodox

“The word of God, so divine, does not enter into them, and does not support them so as to be …

“For the sower makes no distinction in the land submitted to him but simply and indifferently casts his seed. So He Himself too makes no distinction of rich and poor, of wise and unwise, of slothful or diligent, of brave or cowardly. He plants his seed among all, fulfilling His part… Now tell me how the greater part of the seed was lost? Not through the sower but through the ground that received it. The soul was unreceptive… But He speaks this parable as if to anoint his disciples and to teach them that they are not to be despondent even though those lost may be more than those who receive the word. It was with this same ease that the Lord Himself continued to sow, even He who fully foreknew the outcomes…For here there is such a thing as the rock changing and becoming rich land. Here it is possible that the wayside might no longer be trampled upon or lie open to all who pass by but that it may become a fertile field. In the case of the soul, the thorns may be destroyed and the seed enjoy full security. For had it been impossible, this sower would not have sown. And if the reversal did not take place in all, this is no fault of the sower but of the souls who are unwilling to be changed. He has done His part. If they betrayed what they received of Him, He is blameless, the exhibitor of such love to humanity.” St John Chrysostom #ParableofTheSower #begoodsoil #dailyreadings #coptic #orthodox

“For the sower makes no distinction in the land submitted to him but simply and indifferently casts his seed. So …

“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 welltilled soil, bring forth to God the fruits that will raise you to an incorruptible life.” St Cyril of Alexandria #parableoftheSower #Goodsoil #WordofGod #dailyreadings #coptic #orthodox

“We see in a moment that the hardness of the ground causes the seed on the pathways to be snatched …