Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 397
Reading 1
Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10
The words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah,
of a priestly family in Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin.
The word of the LORD came to me thus:
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I dedicated you,
a prophet to the nations I appointed you.
“Ah, Lord GOD!” I said,
"I know not how to speak; I am too young.”
But the LORD answered me,
Say not, “I am too young.”
To whomever I send you, you shall go;
whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Have no fear before them,
because I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.
Then the LORD extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying,
See, I place my words in your mouth!
This day I set you
over nations and over kingdoms,
To root up and to tear down,
to destroy and to demolish,
to build and to plant.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 71:1-2, 3-4a, 5-6ab, 15 and 17
R. (see 15ab) I will sing of your salvation.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me, and deliver me;
incline your ear to me, and save me.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
For you are my hope, O Lord;
my trust, O God, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother’s womb you are my strength.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
My mouth shall declare your justice,
day by day your salvation.
O God, you have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.
R. I will sing of your salvation.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower;
all who come to him will live for ever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Matthew 13:1-9
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.”
Reflection 1
Catholic Daily Reflections
Speaking in Parables
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… Matthew 13:1–3
Why did Jesus speak in parables? In today’s Gospel, Jesus goes on to teach the familiar “Parable of the Sower.” Immediately after that parable in today’s Gospel, the disciples do ask Jesus this question. They ask, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” Jesus responds to them, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.” So why is that?
First of all, a story is easy to listen to. It keeps our attention and is easily remembered. In the “Parable of the Sower” that we hear today, Jesus explains that the seed sown by the sower falls either on the path, on rocky ground, among thorns, or on rich soil. This is a very visible description that will lead people to conclusions right away. Everyone knows that the ideal place for seed to be sown is rich soil. And everyone knows that the seed sown on the path, rocky ground and among thorns has little hope of producing fruit. Therefore, this parable easily draws the listener in so as to understand some basic lessons.
With that said, this story will only become a parable if the deeper lesson is learned. Clearly, Jesus wanted the crowd to understand that they will only understand the mysteries He is teaching them if they are like the rich soil. And He also wanted them to understand that much of what He was teaching them was not falling on rich soil in their hearts.
This parable, as well as all of Jesus’ parables, has the effect of causing the listener to think. Thinking leads to what we may term a holy curiosity. And this holy curiosity will begin to produce the rich soil that was needed within them so as to open the door to the deeper mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven.
How does Jesus speak to you? Are you able to listen to Jesus speak directly to you, in prayer, so as to reveal to you the deepest mysteries of Heaven? When God speaks to you, in prayer and meditation, does the seed of His Word take root in your very soul? Does His gentle, quiet but transforming Voice communicate to you Who He is and what His will is for your life? If not, then parables are for you. And knowing that is an important discovery.
Reflect, today, upon the desire of God to speak to you. If you do struggle with hearing the clear and profound Voice of God resonate within your soul, then do not be afraid to spend time with the many parables that Jesus told. Try to place yourself within the scene. See yourself as a participant. In today’s parable, see your inner self as the field. Think about those things in your life that keep your soul from being rich soil. Allow this story of Jesus to speak to you. As you do, be attentive to God’s Voice. Listen for Him and listen to Him. And as you do hear Him, know that the seed He has scattered has begun to reach that rich soil of your heart.
Reflection 2
One Bread, One Body
“A TIME TO PLANT” (ECCL 3:2)
“A farmer went out sowing.” —Matthew 13:4
We tend to think of a farmer sowing and planting for one growing season, usually lasting a few months. That was the case for Jesus’ audience as well. The timeframe most people had in mind was one crop-cycle, a few months.
God, the Farmer and Vinegrower (Jn 15:1), plants seeds in every soul. God’s “growing season” in a soul may be seventy or eighty years (see Ps 90:10). He plans for a fruitful harvest from the crop-cycle of each soul, thirty or sixty or a hundredfold over the course of each person’s life (Mk 4:8).
Parents are accustomed to this type of timing. A parent fertilizes the soil of a child’s heart with years of nurturing, feeding, discipling, schooling, disciplining, etc. The parent doesn’t expect the child to be ready for college at age eight.
However, the first six or so years of a child’s life are absolutely critical. Many seeds need to be sown early in a child’s life. “You need patience to do God’s will” (Heb 10:36). It requires lasting faith and patient obedience to continually plant seeds without seeing results. Like the farmer, we must go out to sow season after season, whether or not there are any results to be seen. We might be sowing so that others can reap the harvest (see 1 Cor 3:6ff). “Let us not grow weary of doing good” and planting all the seeds God gives us; “if we do not relax our efforts, in due time we shall reap our harvest” (Gal 6:9).
Prayer: Father, give me the grace to sow and plant well for Your Kingdom, even if I will not be alive to see the harvest from the seeds I plant (see 1 Cor 3:6-8).
Promise: “Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.” —Jer 1:8
Praise: St. Sharbel Makhluf was a Lebanese monk who lived as a hermit in poverty, self-sacrifice, and prayer. He lost his life for Jesus, and thereby discovered who he was (Mt 10:39).
Reflection 3
Shared from God's Word
God sows the good and powerful seed of His word in our hearts, but the response varies. A great deal of the seed that was scattered was lost; it never germinated but there were seeds that fell on rich soil, which produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. There are people who hear the Word, but fail to grow and produce fruit due to their anxiety over life’s daily troubles, persecution and cares of this world. We are called to be doers of the Word and not merely hearers. Jesus powerfully conveys the message of the Kingdom through the tiny seed of the Word of God. The sower is generous, hoping to produce maximum fruit. Let us adhere to God’s Word and live according to the gospel values as the Lord always desires us to be.
Prayers
My teaching Lord, You desire to speak to me and to reveal to me all that You are. Help me to hear Your Voice so that I will come to know You more. Make my heart truly fertile soil in which the seed of Your Word is sown, so that You can produce within me an abundance of good fruit. Jesus, I trust in You.
Lord Jesus, faith in your word is the way to wisdom, and to ponder your divine plan is to grow in the truth. Open my eyes to your deeds, and my ears to the sound of your call, that I may understand your will for my life and live according to it.
Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy
Reflection 205: The Fortress of Peace
The peace of the Lord is like a fortress in which we must take refuge from all the outer attacks from the evil one. Outside of this fortress we are exposed to all of these malicious attacks. The darts of anger, oppression, deceit and envy can do us great damage without the sacred protection of the Peace of God. But within the walls of this fortress, the Lord protects us from all that seeks to do us harm. Seek refuge in the Lord’s Mercy and allow it to form a barrier of peace, protecting you from the evils of the world. Do not allow these attacks to penetrate this barrier; rather, remain content with the Lord and allow Him to work on you within the safety of His place of refuge (See Diary #1067).
What is it that seeks to destroy your peace? What shakes you and disturbs you from within? Know that the Lord wants to protect you and to give you refuge. Seek His peace. Seek Him and He will give you His peace. Peace is a gift that is beyond description and human comprehension. It’s a place of safety that will shield your soul from the daily vices and attacks of the evil one. Do you know the Lord’s peace? Are your eyes firmly fixed on this gift of His Mercy? Seek Jesus with all your heart and you will, indeed, know His peace. And in the shelter of that peace, the Lord will do great things to you, if you let Him.
Lord, I entrust to You the protection of my soul. I give to You all of my inner longings, hopes, desires and weaknesses. Please come and form a barrier of protection around me so that I may meet You in this sanctuary within. I thank You for the love of Your Mercy that envelops me and produces sweetness and strength. I love You, my Lord, and entrust myself to Your perfect care. Jesus, I trust in You.
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