When anyone hears the word of the kingdom without understanding, the evil one comes and carries off what was sown in his heart; this is the man who received the seed on the edge of the path (Matthew 13:19)
Distraction - this is what came to me from today’s readings - and guilt about it. All the readings set forth something of Christianity’s big aim. The Gospel bids us keep tight focus on that aim and it convicted me of the loss of focus we call distraction. Besides being a phenomenon of lockdown, distraction in its spiritual sense is, as Simone Weil describes it, ‘the root of sin’. Taking attention away from love of God and neighbour is to lack understanding and let ‘the evil one come and carry off what was sown in your heart like the one who received the seed on the edge of the path’.
Let’s have a look through the readings. Isaiah affirms how God’s word is at work in us and in the world and that it will ‘succeed in what it was sent to do’ (Isaiah 55:11). Then St Paul reminds us how creation is on tenterhooks as Christians build love for God and neighbour across the earth looking to enjoy the same freedom and glory (we share) as the children of God (Romans 8:21). What a picture - creation actually ‘groaning’ in its yearning for a glorious liberty in which God will be all in all. We might consider how little yearning we give to that picture despite the invitation of the Psalmist to shout for joy, yes, sing with hills, meadows and valleys! The Gospel starts a three week series of seed parables from Matthew Chapter 13 contrasting small beginnings with grand endings in which the one who hears the word [of God] and understands it… is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty (v23).
How blest we are to have an aim and focus in life at this or indeed any season. In talking with fellow church members I’m hearing how their lockdown has been made bearable by the big picture we look to as believers through a focus on prayer, on the worship Fr Chris leads and engineers for us, study of the bible and taking opportunities to pray for and serve those in our circle. Because we’ve had so much time to ourselves distraction from such an aim and focus has been inevitable. One of the penalties for many of internet engagement is the continual flow of tempting options to view or engage with that can distract us from attending to God and other people, even if the internet, as at this moment, can bring us close to both.
The spiritual writer Simone Weil wrote: Concentration is the essence of prayer… distraction is the root of sin. This saying came back to me after reading the Gospel image of the seed falling on the field edge inspiring me to write a poem entitled ‘Distraction’ which I will now read. It has four five line verses:
In a moment of distraction I read
‘Distraction is the root of sin’.
It is certainly a short fall.
Losing sight of the ball
can lose you the game.
A poem though is a distraction
from the prose flow of life,
affirming a higher level,
reminding me I can stand
in mind above that flow.
Other thinking and acting
takes me lower.
Knowing what I ought to do
I am taken from that
by sinful distraction.
To live in the present moment
serving obligations
yet attending to the high call
of God and neighbour
will keep me on course.
My poem takes up how distractions can be both welcome and unwelcome. I’d never have written this homily unless I’d been distracted into a poem from the focus required in writing. One church member unknowingly helped me prepare this sermon telling me of his own struggle with distraction, working from home with a young child, knowing what he ought to do whilst lacking focus and enthusiasm to get on with it. We talked about the wonder of living in the presence of God and the importance of devices that help keep us in God’s presence at all times not just at worship and in prayer. My device to counter spiritual distraction is repeating the Jesus Prayer at all times, unless I get distracted! I want to invite you to join me in repeating it three times and then, it's easy to memorise, do continue on your own into the silence after the homily:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.
