St Wilfrid, Haywards Heath & Holy Trinity, Cuckfield Distraction 21.7.21

 As he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up (Matthew 13:19)

Distraction - this is what came to me from today’s Gospel - and guilt about it. Our Lord’s interpretation of this passage given later on in Matthew 13 names spiritual distraction as the theft of fruitful living symbolised by the birds eating the heaven sent seeds. 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’. 

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 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.