on the shore; and he spoke to them in parables about many things. Jesus said,
“The sower went out to sow; and, as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path;
and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where
there was little soil, and the seeds sprouted quickly, because the soil was not deep.
But as soon as the sun rose, the plants were scorched; and they withered, because
they had no roots. Again, other seeds fell among thistles; and the thistles grew
and choked the plants. Still, other seeds fell on good soil and produced a crop:
some a hundredfold, others sixty, and others thirty. If you have ears, then hear!”
Then his disciples came to him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”
Jesus answered, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of
heaven, but not to these people. For the one who has will be given more; and he
will have in abundance. But the one who does not have will be deprived of even
what he has. That is why I speak to them in parables; because they look and do not
see; they hear; but they do not listen or understand. In them, the words of the prophet
Isaiah are fulfilled: However much you hear,you do not understand; however much you
see, you do not perceive. For the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears hardly
hear and their eyes dare not see. If they were to see with their eyes, hear with their ears
and understand with their heart, they would turn back, and I would heal them.

But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.
For I tell you, many prophets and righteous people have longed to see the things
you see, but they did not see them; and to hear the things you hear, but they did
not hear them. Now listen to the parable of the sower. When a person hears the
message of the kingdom, but does not take it seriously, the devil comes and snatches
away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed that fell along the footpath.

The seed that fell on rocky ground stands for the one who hears the word, and accepts
it at once with joy. But such a person has no roots, and endures only for a while.
No sooner is he harassed or persecuted because of the word, than he gives
up. The seed that fell among the thistles is the one who hears the word; but
then, the worries of this life and the love of money choke the word; and it does
not bear fruit. As for the seed that fell on good soil, it is the one who hears the
word and understands it; this seed bears fruit and produces a hundred, or

will. Paul strengthens the Romans’ faith, reminding them of what God has prepared
for his faithful children. Creation itself will be redeemed. Death will be destroyed
forever, Jesus preaches the Parable of the Sower, encouraging his listeners to allow
God’s Word to bear fruit in their lives.

READ: Isaiah assures us that God’s Word will always bear fruit and accomplish his
will. Paul strengthens the Romans’ faith, reminding them of what God has prepared
for his faithful children. Creation itself will be redeemed. Death will be destroyed
forever, Jesus preaches the Parable of the Sower, encouraging his listeners to allow
God’s Word to bear fruit in their lives.

REFLECT: The Parable of the Sower can act as an examination of conscience. As
we read this parable, we can reflect on the things that keep us from allowing the
Word of God to bear fruit in our lives. Do we fail to take the Word of God seriously,
ignoring what our consciences tell us and what the Church teaches? Is our faith
shallow so that we are easily dissuaded from living as we claim to believe? Is our
faith threatened by anxiety, greed, or other distractions? How can we become good
soil to receive God’s Word? We can prepare our hearts by spending time in prayer,
listening for the Lord’s voice. We can make our spirits docile to God’s will. We can
ask God in his mercy to cleanse us of the sins that keep us from him.

PRAY: Lord, let your Word dwell in our hearts.

ACT: Spend time each day reading and reflecting on God’s Word.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2023