THE LONELY EMBER

Mark 4:20

“But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.

Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself comfortable but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the play of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet fascination.

As the one lone ember's flame diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and "dead as a doornail."

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting.

Just before the pastor was ready to leave, he picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday."

Almighty Father, may I be a seed that falls on a rich soil so I may produce fruit. May I find the importance of hearing Your words and participating in activities that would glorify Your name, thereby helping me grow spiritually, opening my heart to accept You and opening my eyes to see You clearly and accept Your will. My heart burns with the desire to share the truth the best I possibly can. Bless us, Oh Lord with that wisdom that we may bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.

Come home to His Church and accept His Holy Flesh And Blood.