As we journey through the pre-Lenten season, Sexagesima Sunday invites us to reflect on the trials of St. Paul and the parable of the sower. The readings—2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9 and Luke 8:4-15—offer profound lessons on humility, perseverance, and divine grace. The Church Fathers illuminate these passages, guiding us toward a deeper understanding of suffering and fruitfulness in the spiritual life.
St. Paul’s Boast: Strength in Weakness
In his epistle, St. Paul recounts his sufferings: imprisonments, beatings, shipwrecks, hunger, and constant dangers for the sake of Christ. He declares,
“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” (2 Cor. 11:30)
This is a striking paradox—Paul glories not in his achievements but in his frailty. Why? Because through suffering, he encounters the sufficiency of God’s grace:
“My grace is sufficient for thee, for power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9)
The Church Fathers on Suffering and Grace
St. John Chrysostom teaches that St. Paul’s endurance demonstrates that Christian strength lies not in human effort but in reliance on God:
“Paul does not say, ‘I am strong,’ but, ‘When I am weak, then I am strong,’ meaning that when he is weak in his own strength, then he is strong through the grace of Christ.” (Homilies on 2 Corinthians, 26.2)
Likewise, St. Augustine sees in Paul’s afflictions a reflection of Christ’s own suffering:
“The head suffered first, and then the members. The world persecuted Christ; let not the Christian expect to be loved by it.” (Sermon 46)
Thus, Paul becomes a model for us: our trials are not punishments but invitations to trust in God’s power.
The Parable of the Sower: The Fertile Soil of the Heart
In the Gospel, Christ speaks of the sower whose seed falls on different types of ground—wayside, rocky, thorny, and good soil. The Word of God is freely given, but its fruitfulness depends on the disposition of the soul.
The Church Fathers on the Four Types of Soil
St. Gregory the Great interprets the parable as a call to self-examination:
“The path is the hardened heart, the rock is the shallow soul, the thorns are worldly desires. But the good soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who bears fruit through patience.” (Homilies on the Gospels, 15)
Similarly, St. Cyril of Alexandria warns against distractions that choke spiritual growth:
“Riches, pleasures, and worldly cares are the thorns which smother the divine seed. The heart that is divided cannot bring forth the fruits of the Spirit.” (Commentary on Luke, Sermon 41)
How, then, do we cultivate the “good soil” of our souls? By humility, prayer, and detachment from worldly concerns—qualities exemplified by St. Paul in his sufferings.
Lessons for Our Spiritual Journey
- Embrace Weakness as a Path to Grace – Like St. Paul, let us not resist suffering but see it as a means to rely more fully on God.
- Prepare the Soil of Our Hearts – The Word of God will bear fruit only if we cultivate an interior life of prayer and detachment.
- Persevere Through Trials – Just as the seed must endure storms and droughts before yielding a harvest, so too must we endure struggles with faith.
Sexagesima Sunday calls us to examine our hearts: are we hardened, shallow, or choked by the world? Or are we truly prepared to receive the Word and bear fruit a hundredfold?
May the intercession of St. Paul and the wisdom of the Church Fathers guide us in this sacred season of preparation.