On that day, Jesus went out of the house and
sat down by the sea. Such large crowds
gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd
stood along the shore. And he spoke to
them at length in parables, saying:
“A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and
birds came and ate it up. Some fell on
rocky ground, where it had little soil. It
sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was
scorched, and it withered for lack of roots.
Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil and produced
fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.
Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
Matthew 13: 1 – 9
In today’s Gospel we hear the familiar story
of Jesus getting into a boat leaving the shore to teach those who had gathered. This is one of my favorite Gospels as we hear
Jesus instructing those who had come to follow.
Jesus was sharing the parable of the Sower and the Seed. Each of His words emphasized the intention of
each one of us receiving the Word of God.
Jesus lets us know that it is not enough to hear the Word we need to
live it out and let it take root in our lives.
Our lives can become difficult and complex at times but we must allow
the word of God to fill it and live out of that reality. Jesus challenges us to look at ourselves and
examine those parts in our hearts where there may be rocky soil. In what areas do we need to allow Jesus to
touch our hearts? Let us take time to
reflect on this Gospel today and allow ourselves to be open to Jesus’ healing
touch.