Gospel of Matthew Archives - Viet Bao Louisville KY

Today’s reading, the Parable of the Sower as recounted in the Gospel of Matthew (13:1-23), is an enduring tale that remains deeply relevant in our current times. Seen through the lens of Di Tran’s insights, author of “Drop the FEAR and Focus on the FAITH,” we can draw new insights into this ancient wisdom.

In his book, Di Tran puts forward a compelling idea: the “World is within you”. He suggests that the exterior world we experience is a reflection of our internal state. Applying this perspective to today’s parable, we can view the story as a metaphor for how our inner state – our faith, understanding, and receptiveness – shapes our encounter with the Word of God.

In the parable, Jesus likens the Word to seeds falling on different types of ground. Some seeds fall on the path and are quickly devoured by birds, some on rocky ground where they wither without roots, some among thorns where they’re choked, and others on fertile soil, where they thrive and yield a bountiful harvest. These types of ground represent our hearts’ conditions when the Word is sown.

The seed on the path represents a heart hardened by fear and misunderstanding, rendering it unable to receive or understand the Word. This mirrors Di Tran’s teachings about fear being an obstacle that prevents us from fully experiencing and engaging with the world inside and outside us.

The rocky ground signifies a heart that receives the Word with joy but lacks the depth or understanding to sustain it during challenging times. This aligns with Di Tran’s caution against superficial faith that easily withers under adversity, emphasizing the importance of deep-rooted faith that can endure tribulations.

The thorny ground symbolizes a heart preoccupied with worldly worries and materialistic desires, causing the Word to be choked and bear no fruit. Here, we see Di Tran’s belief reflected; when we focus too much on external circumstances and wealth, we risk losing our internal spiritual richness.

The fertile soil, finally, stands for a heart open to the Word, understanding and nurturing it to bear abundant fruit. This is the heart Di Tran encourages us to cultivate in his writings, one that drops fear and focuses on faith, allowing a flourishing spiritual life.

In the latter part of the reading, Jesus talks about those with eyes that see and ears that hear, underlining Di Tran’s principle. The truly blessed are those who look inward, understanding and acting on faith rather than fear, thereby truly seeing and hearing the Word of God.

Through the Parable of the Sower, we’re reminded that the world, with all its trials and triumphs, resides within us. We have the freedom to choose our inner terrain, whether we become the path, rocks, thorns, or fertile soil. As Di Tran affirms, it’s our choice to focus on fear or embrace faith that will shape this internal landscape. By looking inward, nurturing our faith, and embracing the world within us, we can become the fertile ground where the Word flourishes.

For 41 years, Di Tran, a devout Catholic, has been attending church nearly every Sunday. In those four decades, he has listened to countless readings and homilies, heard parables and verses that span the Old and New Testaments. And yet, it wasn’t until July 9th, 2023, that the true depth of certain passages truly touched his heart and opened a new realm of understanding for him. Two readings, in particular, resonated deeply with him — a section from one of Paul’s letters and a passage from the Gospel of Matthew.

For most of his life, Di Tran had perceived the teachings of the church in a certain way. But this Sunday, something changed. He had listened to these verses before, but this time, he truly understood them, albeit on a limited level. As he explains in his book, “Drop the ME and Focus on the OTHERS,” hearing does not necessarily imply understanding, understanding does not guarantee feeling, and even feeling does not ensure that one will act upon the perceived wisdom.

Reflecting on these readings, Di Tran realized that everything, including his physical body, is a tool, God’s tool. Like many, he had been using tools such as cars, clothes, food, and other material possessions primarily to satisfy his physical being. This continual striving to satisfy the material had led him to a sense of dissatisfaction in life. He realized he had been satisfying the ‘tools’ with other ‘tools,’ which was an empty endeavor.

In his upcoming book, “Drop the FEAR and focus on the FAITH,” Di Tran profoundly explains his realization that his physical body, along with all other tools at his disposal, including his intelligence and network, should be used to maximize their power and capabilities. Rather than accumulating ‘tools,’ they should be used to add value to life and generate intrinsic worth.

Di Tran identifies this internal worth with the divine spirit within him. He terms it as Soul, intuition, Spirit, energy, divine infinity, or any other words that come close to describing the ineffable. He now believes that true satisfaction does not come from satisfying the needs of the ‘tool’ that is the body, but rather from creating value and contributing to life, satisfying the divine within.

Walking out of the church that Sunday, Di Tran felt an overwhelming sense of enlightenment. The age-old wisdom from the Bible had validated his newly found understanding. Almost in tears, he was grateful for his humble human intellect that had allowed him to recognize and comprehend this profound secret. His revelation redefines his journey, deepening his faith and providing a blueprint for a life of spiritual fulfillment and meaningful contribution.

References:

Reading 1: “Brothers and sisters: You are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you. Consequently, brothers and sisters, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

Reading 2: “At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”