![『[Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 38 – God’s Word is Hope』のカバーアート](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51jyEH7CBjL._SL500_.jpg)
-
[Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 38 – God’s Word is Hope
- 2025/04/16
- 再生時間： 13 分
- ポッドキャスト
-
サマリー
あらすじ・解説
God's desire is that we may be with Him not only in this life but also in eternal life, and that we may enjoy and receive all that is best. Everything He has done and arranged for us is for our greatest benefit. Since our first ancestors betrayed God, not only did God not abandon us, but for our sake, He saved us through the birth, suffering, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. He also established the Church on earth for us, sent the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide us, and instituted the sacraments to nourish and remain with us. Through Jesus, God brought the Kingdom of Heaven into the world, allowing us to have a foretaste of its sweetness, so that we may yearn for it even more and be filled with hope in our lives. The ultimate goal is to ensure that we can smoothly transition through our earthly lives and enter eternal life, to be with Him forever.In a sense, God has already done everything He could for us and He is simply waiting for our response. In Jesus’ first parable about the Kingdom of Heaven, the Parable of the Sower, He explains the mindset and attitude we should have in order to receive the word of the Kingdom into our lives, so that the Word may take root in our hearts and transform us and our lives. (Cf. Matthew 13:1–23)Unfortunately, most people do not allow the message of the Kingdom to enter their lives. Many even respond with indifference. In the parable, Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah to describe them: “You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn and I would heal them.” (Matthew 13:14-15) Those who do not have open hearts or space within will not listen to or accept the word of the Kingdom, nor will they have the patience to understand it.In contrast, Jesus describes in the parable that the seeds falling on good soil will bear fruit a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold. For the farmers of that time, such a harvest was unimaginable. This shows that for those who accept God's salvation and His Kingdom, He has prepared unexpected and unimaginable rewards and blessings! For those who seek the Kingdom and are willing to listen with open hearts and receive its message, how could this not lead to a great harvest? How could it not bring immense hope to their lives? Therefore, to be willing to listen to God's Word is to dwell in the Kingdom of Heaven. It is the key to letting the Kingdom take root in our hearts, and it is the reason we can find true hope in our lives.That is why Jesus said to His disciples: “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.” (Matthew 13:16) This blessing is in stark contrast to those who, because of their hardened hearts, refuse to listen. So when facing people who see but do not perceive, hear but do not understand, and whose hardened hearts keep them from turning back, how could Jesus not feel sad and helpless?Jesus is the sower who generously scatters the Word of God. But in the face of people’s indifference toward the Word and their coldness toward God, how could Jesus not feel heartbroken? No wonder He ended the parable with this plea: “Let anyone with ears listen!” (Matthew 13:9)ReflectionHow seriously do you take the Word of God? Have you put it into practice in your life, or is it just knowledge in your head?What in your life hinders you from hearing and receiving God’s Word? What actions can you take to become the fertile soil that bears fruit a hundredfold?Take a moment to savour everything God has done for you. What more do you think God needs to do for you to make you more willing to receive His Word and live it out?Today’s PrayerDear Lord Jesus, thank You for generously sowing the Word of God into my heart. I understand Your expectations of me. Through today’s reflection, I feel even more deeply Your sorrow, because of my hardened heart, I have not treated every word You speak to me with the seriousness it deserves.I understand that You have already done everything You can. You are simply waiting for my response, hoping that I will diligently cultivate the field of my heart and remove all obstacles that prevent me from bearing fruit.I don't want to cause You pain anymore! Please help me! Open my eyes to see, my ears to hear Your Word, and transform my hardened heart into one that is sensitive and discerning of Your will for me!Lord Jesus, thank You once again! I love You!--------------------Fundraising AppealThank you for participating in this 40-day Lenten spiritual journey. We hope you have been inspired and have benefitted from it! For the spiritual benefit of all of you, Fountain of Love and Life devotes a lot of time and effort in producing various spiritual projects every year, and all our ministries are sustained...