First reading: Is. 55:10–11
Thus says the LORD: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.
Second reading: Rom. 8:18–23
Brothers and sisters: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
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.”
In other words
Fr. Gil Alejandria, SVD (Catholic Trade Community, Manila)
The Parable of the Sower illustrates how the seed of faith is accepted by those who receive it. Perhaps the different situations in life affect how the seed of faith may develop. Allow me to reflect on my personal experience.
I grew up in a family where my parents were involved in various activities at Sacred Heart Parish in Kamuning, Quezon City, which was run by SVD priests. My siblings and I were also involved in different activities: as altar servers, choir members, and members of the Legion of Mary. Family life was also marked by regular praying of the nightly rosary. I would consider this environment as instrumental in the development of my vocation to the priesthood. Now, as I mark my 44th year in the priesthood, I can say that the seed of faith has borne fruit not only in me but also in the lives of the people I have served.
Parents are also sowers of the seed of faith. Through their example and witnessing, they can affect how the seeds of faith develop in their children. Family life can be the soil in which the seeds are nurtured. How sad it is when parents themselves are unable to sow the seed of faith because they do not possess this faith to start with. Then the children grow up knowing nothing about God. It is this environment that challenges men and women of faith to take action by reaching out to them. The seeds of faith need to be sown in the hearts of those who have little chance of receiving them from their own family. Christian families and communities can be the soil where faith can be nurtured. We take a lesson from the early Church—they were in a hostile environment where Christians were persecuted and efforts were made by authorities to stop them. By remaining steadfast in the face of persecution and by their way of life, others were attracted and inspired to join them, thus resulting in the spectacular growth of Christianity.
Today, the work of sowing the seed continues. Many are still waiting for the chance to receive the seed of faith.