By Chiemeka Ugwowo, Abuja
Prepare Your Hearts for God’s Word, Catholic Priest Tells Christians
A Catholic priest, Father Michael Imadonmwinyi, has urged Christians to prepare their hearts for the Word of God, stressing that the spiritual harvest of every believer depends on their inner disposition, faithfulness, and willingness to live according to God’s teachings.
Father Imadonmwinyi, who works with the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja, gave the charge during his Sunday homily on Sunday, July 12, 2026, where he reflected on the Parable of the Sower and called on the faithful to examine the state of their hearts.
The priest began his homily with thanksgiving to God for His continued protection, mercy, and intervention in human affairs. He expressed gratitude over the release students and their teachers who were kidnapped, praying that God would continue to bring freedom, healing, and peace to those facing hardship.
Reflecting on the day’s biblical readings from Prophet Isaiah and the Gospel, Father Imadonmwinyi said the Word of God remains powerful, dependable, and capable of transforming lives whenever it is received with faith and obedience.
He explained that in Jesus’ Parable of the Sower, the seed represents God’s Word, while the different types of soil represent the conditions of human hearts.
According to him, some hearts are like the hardened pathway where pride, sin, resentment, and distractions prevent God’s message from taking root. Others, he said, are like rocky ground, where people receive the Word with enthusiasm but lack the spiritual depth needed to remain faithful during trials and difficulties.
The priest also warned that worldly desires, excessive pursuit of material things, and everyday distractions can become spiritual “thorns” that choke the growth of faith and prevent believers from producing the fruits expected by God.
He encouraged Christians to strive to become “good soil” by deepening their relationship with God through prayer, repentance, forgiveness, charity, and active participation in the life of the Church.
“A good harvest cannot come without good preparation of the soil. In the same way, a fruitful Christian life requires a heart that is ready to receive and practice God’s Word,” Father Imadonmwinyi said.
The cleric urged the faithful to engage in regular self-examination, noting that although God’s Word carries divine power and grace, the condition of an individual’s heart determines how much impact it will have in their lives.
He called on Christians to allow Christ to direct their thoughts, choices, and actions, stressing that a life firmly rooted in God produces fruits of love, peace, kindness, compassion, and holiness.
