Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 Let anyone with ears listen!”
18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
According to the Recipient of the Seed
This Sunday, the Gospel brings us to Jesus' parables that are used to simplify and deepen the message in the mind of His listeners. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear" Matthew 11:15. "Blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it" Luke 11:28. Keeping God’s word means to treasure it and to live according to God's will. “Your will be done" Matthew 6:10 and Luke 22:42. Jesus' parables help us to listen, interiorize, and translate our faith into acts that produce “fruit that will last" John 15:16.
What do we learn from the Parable of the Sower today?
Jesus speaks to us through the Gospel. He addresses His teaching to everyone, especially to those that listen to Him.
Jesus invites everyone to consider how we receive Him and His teaching.
Which of the four soil types am I?
Do I consider Him to be just an historical figure that I only meet in my own way?
Do I accept His words as rocky ground with no deep soil covering it, receiving some drops of rain without absorbing them?
Do I enjoy His teaching in theory, but it evaporates when challenges, referred to as thorns, defy my faith?
Do I receive, accept and prepare my being so that the blessing of His presence within me may take root and bear fruit "worthy of the vocation to which I have been called" Ephesians 4:1?
In Mark 4 and Luke 8, the disciples ask Jesus to explain the meaning of this parable. Jesus then takes them aside and responds to their request. It would be wonderful if we were alone with Jesus and each of us asked ourselves in His presence, “What kind of soil am I and how I can become a more fertile and productive soil?
Let us pray for all Church members to receive Jesus as their redeemer and savior, and to be the fertile soil that reflects His model of love and life in our world today.