GOSPEL, Matthew (13: 1-9)

Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew

The Parable of the Sower

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. ² Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. ³ And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. ⁴ And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. ⁵ Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. ⁶ But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. ⁷ Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. ⁸ Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. ⁹ Let anyone with ears listen!”

The Gospel of the Lord

 

REFLECTION

Chapter 13 of the Gospel of Matthew is entirely devoted to the third discourse of Jesus, composed of a series of seven parables. The recipients are the crowds, while the explanation of everything the Lord says, is reserved for the disciples.

Jesus on the shores of the Sea of Galilee tells the parable of the sower. (Mt 13:1). In order to be able to speak to the standing crowd, Jesus takes a seat on boat. “Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach.” (Mt 13:2)

At the beginning, the sower who goes out to sow, sows the seed without paying attention to where it falls.

The seed will end up on four different terrains: the first three unproductive, the fourth, however, capable of bearing fruit in different percentages. The first three terrains are not the same, but characterized in such a way as to allow the listener/reader to follow the adventures of the seed, in the different stages of its growth; moreover, the three are united by the fact that they present various obstacles to seed fertilization. Only the fourth part of the seed bears fruit, due to the good quality of the soil.

The key to understanding the parable “He who has an ear, let him hear” (v. 9) introduces the reason for listening. It is an invitation to learn to welcome the Word sown with generosity and abundance.

Despite the aridity and obstacles that we may encounter on the path of faith, the Word is abundantly given and we can expect its fruit, because it will not turn back without first having fertilized the earth (Isaiah 55:10-11) .

What kind of soil are we for the seed of the Word? A Path, rocky ground, thorny ground or good land?

Each one of us must answer the Lord with sincerity…

 

PRAYER

Father, Increase in us,, with the power of your Spirit, the readiness to receive the seed of your Word, which may continue to sow in the furrows of Humanity, so that it may bear fruit in works of justice and peace and reveal to the world happy hope of your Kingdom. Amen.