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 lieving they should be saved. Now they upon the rock, are they who when they hear, receive the word with joy: and these have no roots: for they believe for awhile, and in time of temptation, they fall away. And that which fell among thorns, are they who have heard, and going their way, are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and yield no fruit. But that on the good ground: are they who in a good and a very good heart, hearing the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit in patience.

Why is the word of God here compared to seed?

Because as good fruits spring from good seed, so do good works from the word of God; and as it is impossible for any soil not sown to produce good fruits, so neither can men produce the fruits of the Spirit without the seed of the divine Word.

Why did Our Saviour cry out, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear"?

To declare the necessity of heeding the word of God, since without the instruction in our holy religion which we derive from that word we cannot know what we must do to please God, and save our souls.

How, then, does it happen that, notwithstanding the excellence of the divine word, there are so many bad Christians?

The fault is with men, who, though they hear the word of God, hear, read, and meditate superficially. The divine seed finds no moisture or root in their hearts; they are overgrown with the piercing thorns of cares, riches, and sensual lusts, so that the seed of the divine word is choked up, and can neither grow nor bear fruit.

What is the effect of the word of God when heeded?

To wash away sin, implant virtue, and create the world anew. Jeremias says: " Are not My words as a fire" (Jer. xxiii. 29) which bursts out from within, consuming the vapors of sin, drying up the marshes of vice, and killing the deep roots of bad habits? Again, it is " a hammer," breaking in pieces the rocks of hardened hearts. St. Paul says: "It is living and effectual, and more piercing than any two-edged sword: reaching into the division of the soul and spirit, of the joints also and the marrow" (Heb. iv. 12) that is, cutting away from the