Do not be a hybrid seed!

01 August 2023 - Memorial of St. Alphonsus Ligouri

He said in reply, “He Who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one…” - Matthew 13:37-38

With the advancement of modern technology, scientists are now able to create seeds that can withstand different weather conditions, or can even produce crops during off-seasons. These ‘hybrid’ seeds are a real game-changer especially for farmers who are in places with extreme weather conditions.

Jesus, in today’s passage, talks about seeds again — one being from a good batch, and the other from a bad one. The good seeds produce wheat, while the bad ones produce weeds. The good seeds were sown by Jesus Himself, while the bad seeds were sown by the enemy. Notice that Jesus referred to the seeds as only good and bad.

Nothing was mentioned about in-between seeds or hybrid seeds.

One of the key messages in today’s Gospel is also a great reminder for us to be firm with the choices we are making in terms of our faith. In the Scriptures, Jesus stated that our ‘yes’ should be a yes, and our ‘no’ should be a no. His kingdom is a straightforward one. Those who desire to follow Him will say yes to His commands; those who do not will say no. There is no but or if or anything in between.

In Jesus’ kingdom, hybrid seeds are not included.

It simply means that Jesus does not patronize lukewarm faith, that is, faith based on the current life circumstances.

When everything seems to be doing well, then it is easy to follow and be obedient to Him and the faith is strong. But when struggles and suffering becomes present, there also comes the difficulty to trust and obey which also makes faith weak.

Sadly, some of us have settled to become hybrid seeds, especially nowadays that the secular world is slowly gaining an upperhand. We may see lukewarm faith as a safe spot to be in, believing that we will not be condemned. But in reality and in truth it is even more dangerous than having no faith at all.

Jesus sows the good seed, the enemy sows the bad seed. We must be either one more than the other, and definitely not in the middle. May we not settle to become lukewarm in our faith; rather let us strive to strengthen and deepen our relationship with Jesus.

Becoming good seeds bearing the fruits of God’s Kingdom must be our end goal, and it must be the only direction we should be heading to.

Dear Papa,

Today You have revealed to me again Your message, I praise and thank You for giving me understanding of Your word.

You continuously sow Your good seeds in a world that is full of brokenness and sin. Such is Your confidence that Your seeds will bear fruit according to what You have purposed for them. Teach me how to become a good seed cultivated in Your rich and fertile field, that I may produce abundance of Your fruit. Strengthen my heart to always say yes to Your commands.

Remove the traces of lukewarmness in my being, and empower me to offer my all to You.

Increase my desire to seek and know You, that I may become rich and abundant in Your grace and love. I belong to You, Papa, may Your will be done to me. All these I pray in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Saviour, together with the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

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