7/16/2023 (Sunday) Today’s gospel reading: Matthew 13:1-9
1 On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea.
2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore.
3 And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.
4 And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up.
5 Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep,
6 and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots.
7 Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it.
8 But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.
9 Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
7/16/2023 (Sunday) Today’s gospel reflection: Matthew 13:1-9
The Parable of the Sower
The gospel reading above reminds us about the different ways people receive the word of God. Some people do not only reject the word of God but also trample on it by claiming its inaccuracy or some other reasons. Many other people are receptive at first but because of temptation or tragedy, they backslide and forget about it. Yet there are still many people out there who are seeking and willing to listen. They even endeavor to make it part of their life. They are the good soil.
It is not easy to be a good soil. Even weeds grow on it. That is why, it is necessary to keep on “cleaning” our thoughts and emotions. It is important that we cultivate the soil of mind and heart by devoting enough time to listen to God’s Word. Indeed, We need to persevere in listening, though at times, we do not understand it. God has promised through Prophet Jeremiah that if we seek Him, we will surely find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). However, we cannot really do it on our own. We must always seek the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
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Jesus is of course the principal sower of the seed (Good News) but He called us to go out into the world and sow it everywhere. Now we know the kinds of soil where the seed can fall. We must never be disheartened when we see that nothing grows out of the seed we have sown. We just have to keep the faith and continue sowing.
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