Tag: the sower

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

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

Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

The disciples spent private time with Jesus, which is made clear in today’s Gospel reading as he dismisses the crowd. He went on to explain to the disciples the parable of the weeds. Teaching the disciples behind closed doors was an essential part of Jesus’ ministry, just as parents spend time with their children to explain the ways of the world.

God, help me understand that there are certain things you will have to spell out to me time after time. “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.” When you say this, Lord, you are speaking not in parables but in truth. Can I overlook my actions day after day when you say, “The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers”?

In prayer, I can’t help wondering about how the disciples tested Jesus’ patience just as Abraham tested the extent of God’s mercy in dealing with the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Was Jesus tired and irritable as he dismissed the crowds, or did he want the intimacy with his disciples through which he taught them everything? Imagining Jesus dismissing the crowds, I can’t help thinking of John Paul II among crowds. Rather than dismissing crowds, he moved among them eye to eye so that he could see and embrace people. Yet, he also needed quiet time in prayer to let the word of God grow and thrive within him.

Today, the Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, I want to be present to those closest to me. Let me remember not to dismiss others close to me—or people I might meet throughout the day—but to set time aside to talk together about the world now and the world to come. That attempt to sow good seed is essential now and in the life to come. “The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live for ever.”

Readings

Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Reflection

“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 Parable of the Sower is made clear in the Gospel acclamation: “The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live for ever.” What is the hope in taking in the word of God if it withers, or is consumed by things of this world or choked by them? The hope in taking in the word of God in this life produces abundant spiritual fruit; in the life to come, it means being in God’s presence for all eternity.

In pondering the life now and the life to come, I hesitate to say I experience joy in the thought of eternal life. Yes, I want the word of God to be planted in me so that it produces, but when I consider the life to come, it’s not easy to accept what is unseen and unknown. God, help me understand that if I come into your presence for all eternity, it will not be like any categorization I can dream up. In the Gospel reading from a few days ago, Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” I believe Jesus meant that for this life, but it also hints at what is in store for me in the life to come. Just as I am restless in this life, in eternal life will I find rest from the restlessness? I don’t know what heaven will be like, but I have things to do here first before I need to worry about that; namely, prepare my soul for the word of God so that it can grow and produce fruit—“a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

Christ is the sower. If I look for Christ, I have found the word of God; I have found the Word. Christ, show me how to better the ground and deepen the soil to receive your word. I struggle to produce in this life words that are good and actions that lead others to you, so I will surely need help from you to prepare for the life to come.

Today let me trust that Jesus is beside me in the trials of the day. I know that if I’m not careful, I’ll have a white-knuckled grip on the wheel today. I want more out of a day, each and every day; I want to produce on my terms and produce the fruit of my own imaginings. Can I let go of the wheel? Let me trust through the Holy Spirit that God the Father and his Son will direct me through this day if I remain open to receiving God’s word.

Readings