The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072718.cfm) reminds
me that I should prepare my heart to be a good soil for God’s seeds.
God
created everything and he is all powerful. He has power over the weather and
the circumstances in life. He allows things to happen, and prevents things from
happening to protect his people. However, there is only one thing he does not
have control over – our free will. God loves us so much that he gave us free
will to decide what we want to do, how we want to live, what we want to happen.
You
decide if you will accept God or not.
In the
gospel, we see that the sower went out to sow. He put out the same
seeds to different 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. This produced different results on
the seed. 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.
In the first reading, we see God calling us back. No matter
how much we sin and hurt him, he is calling us back to him. Not only that, he
will send us shepherds to guide us to remain faithful to Him. This is one thing
we need to do to prepare our hearts to receive God. This is what we should do
so our hearts would become good soils, that would accept God and produce fruits
for Him.
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.
What
kind of soil am I? How do I receive God’s word? How do I treat it? How do I
respond? What can I do to make my heart a good soil for God? How can I produce
blessings and fruits for God?
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. Sorry for the times I let the
world or the devil take your word away from my heart. Sorry for the times I
worry too much or focus too much on worldly things that I keep you in the
background. Sorry for not preparing my heart to be a good soil 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. Use me to bear fruits for
your kingdom and for your glory. Amen
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
July 27, 2018
Friday of the Sixteenth Week in
Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 399
Lectionary: 399
Reading 1
Return,
rebellious children, says the LORD,
for I am your Master;
I will take you, one from a city, two from a clan,
and bring you to Zion.
I will appoint over you shepherds after my own heart,
who will shepherd you wisely and prudently.
When you multiply and become fruitful in the land,
says the LORD,
They will in those days no longer say,
"The ark of the covenant of the LORD!"
They will no longer think of it, or remember it,
or miss it, or make another.
At that time they will call Jerusalem the LORD's throne;
there all nations will be gathered together
to honor the name of the LORD at Jerusalem,
and they will walk no longer in their hardhearted wickedness.
for I am your Master;
I will take you, one from a city, two from a clan,
and bring you to Zion.
I will appoint over you shepherds after my own heart,
who will shepherd you wisely and prudently.
When you multiply and become fruitful in the land,
says the LORD,
They will in those days no longer say,
"The ark of the covenant of the LORD!"
They will no longer think of it, or remember it,
or miss it, or make another.
At that time they will call Jerusalem the LORD's throne;
there all nations will be gathered together
to honor the name of the LORD at Jerusalem,
and they will walk no longer in their hardhearted wickedness.
Responsorial Psalm JEREMIAH
31:10, 11-12ABCD, 13
R.
(see 10d) The Lord will guard us as a
shepherd guards his flock.
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
proclaim it on distant isles, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
he guards them as a shepherd his flock.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
The LORD shall ransom Jacob,
he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.
Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,
they shall come streaming to the LORD's blessings:
The grain, the wine, and the oil,
the sheep and the oxen.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Then the virgins shall make merry and dance,
and young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
proclaim it on distant isles, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
he guards them as a shepherd his flock.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
The LORD shall ransom Jacob,
he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.
Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,
they shall come streaming to the LORD's blessings:
The grain, the wine, and the oil,
the sheep and the oxen.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Then the virgins shall make merry and dance,
and young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Alleluia SEE LK 8:15
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT
13:18-23
Jesus
said to his disciples:
"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."
"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."
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