Saturday, September 20
Reading: Luke 8:4-15
When a large crowd was gathering, as people were coming to him from town after town, he said in a parable: “A sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed some fell on a path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and as it grew up it withered for lack of moisture. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. Some fell into good soil, and when it grew it produced a hundredfold.” As he said this, he called out, “If you have ears to hear, then hear!”
Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets[a] of the kingdom of God, but to others I speak[b] in parables, so that
‘looking they may not perceive
and hearing they may not understand.’
“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones on the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe only for a while and in a time of testing fall away. As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart and bear fruit with endurance.
Reflection
Eating snacks by a pool this week, the kids were suddenly surrounded by bees. Despite our best efforts to avoid them, the five year old got stung on his ear. He cried out in pain and then launched into a tirade about how awful bees are. His older sister reminded him that we need bees for flowers and fruits and trees to survive. The future of strawberries was the last thing on his mind amidst his pain.
Today’s parable describes seeds that fall to the ground in various environments: some among the thorns or rocks, some along the path, and some on fertile ground. My daughter has reminded me that for any seed to grow and bear fruit, even in fertile soil, it will still face challenges… and bees.
As the evening progressed and the ear still throbbed, she switched tactics. “When God re-creates the world there won’t be any pain. The bees won’t need to sting to protect themselves.” I am humbled by her. At 9-years old, her faith is so concrete. She believes so whole-heartedly in the Resurrection and the world that Jesus has promised us. In every day and every moment, she reminds us that the pain on this earth is temporary. Yes, there are bees. But they are nothing compared to the abundant feast God has prepared for us.
Prayer
In you, Father all-mighty, we have our preservation and our bliss.
In you, Christ, we have our restoring and our saving.
You are our mother, brother, and Saviour.
In you, our Lord the Holy Spirit, is marvelous and plenteous grace.
You are our clothing; for love you wrap us and embrace us.
You are our maker, our lover, our keeper.
Teach us to believe that by your grace all shall be well, and all shall be well,
and all manner of things shall be well. Amen
-Julian of Norwich
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Jen Coito: Ignatius at Home 