Tag: seed

“But some seed fell on rich soil . . . ” | Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

From the Gospel acclamation: “The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live for ever.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:1-9)

On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

The familiar parable of the sower is clear in its meaning: Christ is the sower, and the place we make for him within us is for the word to sprout and grow. A common interpretation of Gospel passages that describe Jesus and the disciples in a boat is that the boat symbolizes the Church. From a boat, Jesus shares this parable to the large crowds that gather around him. The word goes out from sea to land—all land everywhere, from now until the end of time. For each type of soil that fails to make an adequate seedbed, Jesus provides an answer to the daily problems every one of his followers might have. The seed that falls on a path only to be eaten by birds: take great care to gather it and prepare it for planting. The seed that falls on rocky ground: prepare and nurture the soil so it can to take root. The seed that falls among thorns choke it; remove the tangles of daily life that obstruct and choke the word of God. Make yourselves ready, Jesus suggests, for a place where God can go to work in you to produce fruit “a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

God, every time I hear this reading, I begin to think of which type of soil I am. As I listen, I realize I am every type. Often I have made little of the seed that simply lies on parched ground, exposed and uncared for as if it had no worth. Other times, I have been the rich soil, having made a place for you to provide everything I need to give glory to your name. Jeremiah excused himself for being too young to speak, but you told him, “Say not, ‘I am too young.” To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear. . . . See, I place my words in your mouth!” Lord, you know me and have a task for me today. In all my words and actions of this day, help me make a place for you to remain—so that you yourself dwell in me and place your word within me.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:1-9)

And [Jesus] spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

The responsorial psalm for today asks, “Can God spread a table in the desert?” In today’s Gospel, Jesus answers that question as he speaks in parables to the crowds gathered around him. Through the familiar parable of the sower and his seeds, Jesus shows us the different states of life in which God’s word, the seed, falls. Some fell on the path, some on rocky ground, and some among thorns. “But some seed fell on rich soil,” Jesus says, “and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” Just as God rained down daily bread in the desert for the Israelites, he rains down his word daily. Through participation in his word and in the sacraments, through God’s grace upon us, hearts soften into rich seedbeds and produce fruit “a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

God, help me understand what it means to produce fruit from seed spread by the sower. Your Son is the seed, the Word incarnate. How can I make my heart ready to receive the seed he sows? Throughout the day, the soil of my heart becomes parched, hardened to receiving the seed that you let fall over and over through your love and mercy. Give me the grace today to make my heart ready for you. Let my heart be a witness to the way, as the psalmist sings, you spread a table in the desert.

From the Gospel acclamation: “The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; All who come to him will live for ever.” Saints Joachim and Anne, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:1-9)

Jesus said to the disciples: “But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus shares with the crowds surrounding him the Parable of the Sower. The seed the sower sowed fell on different soil and failed to grow; some seeds fall on the path and are eaten by birds, some fall on rocky ground and wither away, and some fall among thorns and are choked. “But some seed fell on rich soil,” Jesus says, “and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” The seeds represent the word of God, which is sown in the hearts of people. Jesus later explains to the disciples what the parable means. The response to the word varies among its hearers. Some may not understand or accept the word, while others may initially respond but later give way to certain challenges. But some receive the word with understanding and allow it to take root in their hearts. The result is a fruitful and abundant life in Christ.

God, give me strength and perseverance to hear and understand your word, especially when I reject what is contrary to your name and tend toward sin. Give me the grace to strive after all that gives honor and glory to your name. Help me recall the words of Saint Paul from today’s second reading: “For creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.”

Lord, let me call you to mind throughout the day. As Saint Gregory the Great said: “Take care that the seed does not fall beside the way, lest the evil spirit come and take away the word from your memory.” Christ the sower, let the seed you sow take root and bring me to eternal life.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

https://youtu.be/2W-KSOPWWBY
EWTN Polska | Adoracja z Niepokalanowa