Bearing fruit through perseverance
Be watchful so that the word you have received may resonate in the depth of your heart and dwell there. Take care that the seed not fall upon the path for fear that the evil spirit might come and take the word away from your memory. Take care that the rocky soil does not receive the seed and produce good actions that are lacking the roots of perseverance. For many rejoice when they hear the word and they prepare to undertake good works. But when trials have hardly begun to assail them they give up what they had undertaken. Thus, the rocky soil lacked water, so much so that the wheat germ could not bear the fruit of perseverance.
But the good earth gives fruit through patience. Let us understand by this that our good works can be of value, if we patiently bear the trouble caused by our neighbor. Moreover, the more we advance towards perfection, the more we have to endure trials. Once our soul has abandoned the love of the present world, the hostility of this world increases. That is why we see many toiling under a heavy burden (Mt 11:28) although their works are good… But according to the word of the Lord, “they bear fruit through their constancy” by bearing these trials humbly, so much so that after having toiled, they will be invited to enter into the peace of heaven.
St. Francis of Assisi