SUNDAY, 13 JULY, 2014 (15th Sunday In Ordinary Time) 1ST READING - IS 55:10-11 *****REFLECTION ***** Today’s First Reading and the Gospel are linked by seeds. In the first reading Isaiah tells us that both rain and snow water the earth and cause the seeds to grow and provide us with food. RESPONSORIAL PSALM - PS 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14 R/ (Lk 8:8) The Seed That Falls On Good Ground Will Yield A Fruitful Harvest. 2ND READING - ROM 8:18-23 *****REFLECTION ***** Saint Paul, in the second reading, tells us that no matter what happens to us there is a glory awaiting us which is beyond compare. In order to attain the glory which has been promised us we must nurture the seed within us and listen to the word of God and put it into practice every day. Only then will we become a successful harvest and help others to grow also. GOSPEL - MT 13:1-23 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.” The disciples approached Him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand. Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see. Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted, and I heal them. “But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. “Hear then 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.” *****REFLECTION ***** THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER The Parable Of Jesus In Todays Gospel describes FOUR different responses to the message of the kingdom that He preach. Christ speaks of a sower sowing his seed and of the different places where the seed fell and grew. We are the seed and Christ the water which nourishes us and causes us to grow. The READING TODAY should prompt us to look honestly at our own lives and see which seed we happen to be – FRUITFUL OR FRUITLESS. *****DAILY QUOTE***** (MT 13:12) To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. *****PRAYER**** * Grant, Lord, that I may listen attentively and remember constantly Your teaching, that I may put it into practice forcefully and courageously, despising riches and avoiding the worries of a worldly life…..Grant me Your strength and that I may meditate on Your words putting down deep roots and purifying me of all worldly perils. Amen. MARY, WOMAN OF WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING.. . EMPOWER US, AMEN!!!!
Posted on: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 08:03:51 +0000
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