Sep 19 2020 Reflection

Saturday 19 September 2020

First Reading: 1 COR 15:35-37, 42-49
Responsorial Psalm:
I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.
PS 56:10C-12, 13-14
Gospel Reading: LK 8:4-15

Today’s Note: Saturday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel Reading:

When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another
journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable. 
“A sower went out to sow his seed.
And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled,
and the birds of the sky ate it up.
Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew,
it withered for lack of moisture.
Some seed fell among thorns,
and the thorns grew with it and choked it.
And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew,
it produced fruit a hundredfold.”
After saying this, he called out,
“Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”

Then his disciples asked him
what the meaning of this parable might be.
He answered,
“Knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God
has been granted to you;
but to the rest, they are made known through parables
so that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand.

“This is the meaning of the parable. 
The seed is the word of God.
Those on the path are the ones who have heard,
but the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts
that they may not believe and be saved.
Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear,
receive the word with joy, but they have no root;
they believe only for a time and fall away in time of temptation.
As for the seed that fell among thorns,
they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along,
they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, 
and they fail to produce mature fruit.
But as for the seed that fell on rich soil,
they are the ones who, when they have heard the word,
embrace it with a generous and good heart,
and bear fruit through perseverance.”

Reflection:

On the path . . . on rocky ground . . . among thorns. (Luke 8:5, 6, 7)

As Jesus spoke this parable, he was drawing a picture of the ways different people respond to his word. Our experience also tells us that there’s an element of each type of “soil” in each of us. From one day to the next, we might identify more closely with one or another of them. So let’s consider what these types of soil can tell us about our ability to receive and respond to God’s word.

The Path: This image captures times when you might have felt prompted to pray or read Scripture but pushed the thought aside. A good farmer would take steps to amend the soil to make it more fertile. What could you do? Make the effort to build prayer or Scripture reading into your daily schedule. Try setting a reminder on your computer or phone.

The Rocky Soil: In this case, you might have read a passage from Scripture or prayed for a particular situation. But it left your mind once you got involved in your day. You could amend this soil by having a journal in which you can write down passages that speak to you. Or keep a prayer list that you can refer to when you take the time to intercede.

The Thorns: Perhaps in prayer you were touched by God’s love and peace. But then you received some disturbing news, and anxiety overwhelmed you. Or you felt joyful during Eucharistic Adoration, but then your thoughts wandered and you became envious of someone in the chapel who seemed holier than yourself. Your joy or peace was choked by discontent. In this case, keep turning your attention back to what God just did in your heart. Recall the passage he brought to life for you or remind yourself of his love and trustworthiness.

We all want to respond to God’s word in a fruitful way. But no matter how we respond, it is immensely encouraging to know that our heavenly Father is always sowing seeds! He never tires of speaking to us and inviting us to bear fruit for his kingdom.

“Father, continue to sow the seeds of your word in my life. Improve the soil of my heart so that I can bear fruit for you.”