The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/072817.cfm)
reminds me that I determine what I want to do with God's word.
There are different kinds of
soil. Not all will be conducive for plants and fruits. It depends on the kind
of soil if the seeds will bear fruit. In the gospel today, Jesus uses this in
the context of spiritual growth and maturity.
The
sower went out to sow. He put out the same
seeds to different parts or kinds of soil. It was the same sower, and the same kind of seed. What was different was
the kind of soil that received the seeds.
The readiness and receptiveness of
the soil determines what will happen to the seeds.
The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower.
We
all have the same bible. We all have the same God. We all experience the great,
unconditional and forgiving love of God through Jesus. However, we receive it
differently. Some chose to prioritize worldly riches over spiritual ones, some
allow stress and problems overwhelm us and take the focus away from God, some
allow the devil to take away what God gave us, while some keep everything in
their hearts and lives and allow God’s seeds of love to bear fruit in their
lives.
God
tells us what to do. He tells us how he wants us to live. In the first reading,
we see him giving the ten commandments. The same commandments still apply now.
He still wants us to follow him. However, he will not force us. Same with the
soil, how we treat this, how we react to his words, would determine what will
happen to us. It will determine the fullness of our lives and our participation
in his kingdom.
May
we be challenged and inspired by the fact that God gave us all his love, his
word, his blessings and protection. May we prepare our hearts to receive him
and allow him to bear fruit through us.
Father God,
Thank you for
today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love
and serve you. Thank you for all the blessings you have been continuously
giving me. Thank you for the reminder. Sorry for not doing my best to receive
you well. Sorry for not bearing good fruit for you. Help me prepare my heart to
receive you Lord. Help me be good soil, that your word in my life may take
effect. May I be able to absorb it, give it its due importance, and allow you
to bear fruit through me. Amen.
Blessed
day!
In
Christ,
-g-
Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 399
Reading 1EX 20:1-17
God delivered all these commandments:
"I, the LORD, am your God,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.
You shall not have other gods besides me.
You shall not carve idols for yourselves
in the shape of anything in the sky above
or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth;
you shall not bow down before them or worship them.
For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God,
inflicting punishment for their fathers' wickedness
on the children of those who hate me,
down to the third and fourth generation;
but bestowing mercy down to the thousandth generation
on the children of those who love me and keep my commandments.
"You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain.
For the LORD will not leave unpunished
him who takes his name in vain.
"Remember to keep holy the sabbath day.
Six days you may labor and do all your work,
but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD, your God.
No work may be done then either by you, or your son or daughter,
or your male or female slave, or your beast,
or by the alien who lives with you.
In six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth,
the sea and all that is in them;
but on the seventh day he rested.
That is why the LORD has blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.
"Honor your father and your mother,
that you may have a long life in the land
which the LORD, your God, is giving you.
"You shall not kill.
"You shall not commit adultery.
"You shall not steal.
"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house.
You shall not covet your neighbor's wife,
nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass,
nor anything else that belongs to him."
Responsorial PsalmPS 19:8, 9, 10, 11
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
AlleluiaSEE LK 8:15
Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 13:18-23
"Hear the parable of the sower.
The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the Kingdom
without understanding it,
and the Evil One comes and steals away
what was sown in his heart.
The seed sown on rocky ground
is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy.
But he has no root and lasts only for a time.
When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word,
he immediately falls away.
The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word,
but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word
and it bears no fruit.
But the seed sown on rich soil
is the one who hears the word and understands it,
who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold."
No comments:
Post a Comment